'They're Hard Decisions': Why Maple Leafs Defenseman Simon Benoit Will Be Healthy Scratch Against His Hometown Canadiens

Benoit didn't skate on a pairing Saturday morning and will be scratched for the second of four meetings between the two teams in Montreal.

When Simon Benoit took line rushes on Saturday morning inside the Bell Centre with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was the extra defenseman. 

That meant he'd be a healthy scratch in his hometown for the second time in their last four meetings against the Canadiens. He wasn't in the lineup for Toronto's 3-2 win over Montreal on Mar. 9, 2023, when Sheldon Keefe was head coach.

The 26-year-old has played in 43 of the Maple Leafs' 46 games this season, registering four assists and averaging 16:45 of ice time on what's primarily been the third defense pairing.

Benoit, at times, has struggled defensively this season. He has 38.29 xGF% at five-on-five this season, the lowest among active defensemen with Toronto this season, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Timmins — a left and right-shot combo, like the other two defense pairings — will make up Toronto's third pair against the Canadiens on Saturday night.

"We like the lefty-righty (system) here. The puck movement right now I think is important. Last game was pretty clear on that side of things," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said following Saturday's morning skate.

"Benny's done a good job for us this year. I like Benny and we love Benny. Like, he's a physical guy that does a great job in our own zone, killing penalties. It's just decisions that we make as coaches sometimes, and they're hard decisions. 

"And, listen, we'd like them all in there, but we can't have everybody in there. It's just something we're going through right now and he'll get back in there and he'll do a good job for us. I have no problem with it, I know he will (get back in). So, that's what it boils down to."

Benoit leads all Maple Leafs defensemen in hits this season with 120, only behind Steven Lorentz, who has 122, for the team lead. He also has the fourth-most blocks among Toronto's defensemen this season with 64, behind Morgan Rielly (65), Jake McCabe (73), and Chris Tanev (123).

Benoit signed a three-year, $4.05 million extension with the Maple Leafs in March. The deal, which began this season, carries an annual average value of $1.35 million and expires following the 2026-27 season.