Simon Benoit

Playing career

Benoit played youth hockey in the Ligue de hockey M18 AAA du Québec with Laval-Montréal Rousseau Royal. He was selected by the Shawinigan Cataractes in the eighth round, 129th overall, of the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft. After three seasons with the Cataractes, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL on September 25, 2018. In his first professional season, he led the Gulls in plus/minus at +16 and recorded 2 goals and 16 points in 65 games. On March 8, 2019, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks. During the 2020–21 season, he was recalled and made his NHL debut on April 29, 2021, playing on the third defensive pairing with 12 minutes of ice time in a 3–2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. He scored his first NHL goal on October 28, 2021, a game-tying goal against the Buffalo Sabres in a 4–3 overtime loss. He played his first full NHL season in 2021–22. After five seasons in the Ducks organization, he was not tendered a qualifying offer and became an unrestricted free agent. On August 28, 2023, he signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He failed to make the team out of training camp, cleared waivers, and was assigned to the Toronto Marlies. Following an injury to Timothy Liljegren, Benoit was recalled on November 4 and made his Maple Leafs debut on November 6 in a 6–5 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. After 54 games, during which he led the Leafs in hits with 205, he received a three-year contract extension worth an average of $1.35 million per year.