The new dad has not settled on a name for his daughter who was born just as Leafs training camp began.
It's been nearly 10 days since Simon Benoit became a father for the first time.
He and his partner Alice welcomed a baby girl nearly 10 days ago. As he prepared to head to his hometown when his Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Montreal Canadiens in pre-season action at Bell Centre, the defenseman says there is still no name for his first-born.
"No, we're working on it. I'm just working on it. I got a vote for the boys in the room. They tried to help me, but it's coming," Benoit said.
Asked if there were any interesting suggestions, Benoit smiled and said that he thinks that's going to stay in the room. But that's when teammate Ryan Reaves said 'hold my beer' and offered his best suggestion.
"I suggested Cashew because he calls his wife Peanut," Reaves said. "There was another one up there. It's pronounced 'EH-zel'. It kind of sounds like Hazel, so we can do Hazelnut, I guess. I don't know. Maybe it's just something about the nut family and the nut family. That was my vote."
Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly also became a dad for the first time earlier in the summer and were fairly quick in revealing the name 'McCormick'.
"It was easier than whatever he's going through," Rielly said of Benoit's naming dilemma. "We're at different stages, so I've been kind of laughing at him and he's been laughing at me. But other than that, no, we're just happy to be back together and just enjoying training camp.
Benoit entered training camp this year in a strong position after becoming an everyday player with the Maple Leafs last season. On Mar. 29, Benoit signed a three-year extension with the club worth $1.35 million per season.
