Luxury on the Maple Leafs Blue Line Forces Standout Defenseman Out of the Lineup
Simon Benoit was a healthy scratch last game, and is presumed to be one on Saturday, and it's due to Toronto's wealth of defensemen that have suddenly taken over.
Brad Treliving made no excuses last season and said that things needed to change, both in the locker room and behind the bench. Out was Sheldon Keefe, in was Craig Berube. He also added big-time defenders such as Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jani Hakanpaa through free agency, and the results are staggering.
The roster moves means that some others are pushed out, as Simon Benoit gets taken out for Jani Hakanpaa, who recently returned to the ice after knee surgery.
Simon Benoit has struggled and looked a step or two behind this season, and he's been the Maple Leafs worst defender by far.
So it's unsurprising that Craig Berube is sticking to his guns, and letting Hakanpaa and Morgan Rielly run the top pairing:
So Why Was Simon Benoit Taken Out?
Toronto definitely needed Rielly to be given a partner like Hakanpaa, and while Oliver Ekman-Larsson did a fine job, he's more suited to a lower pairing role. You aren't going to mess with Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev, and Conor Timmins has earned his spot. Benoit being the outlier is just a case of being outperformed, and it's a tough pill to swallow.
Toronto is hopeful that this can give Benoit a mental reset, but as Hakanpaa looked very solid in his debut, and he can stay healthy; it may be more scratches for Benoit unless he can prove that he deserves a spot in the Top 6 again. With only two assists in 17 games and showing a lack of defensive urgency, there's no choice but to take him out.
Hakanpaa can do what Benoit does but better, and he offers more physicality than Benoit would. It's not too often you get a 6'7 freight train on your team and being able to finally let him run free is not only huge for his confidence, but in term it will create a lot more success for the Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs can't afford to have any setbacks when it comes to their defense, which has done a complete 180 compared to the team of last season.
Simon Benoit was a bright spot in a dark time, and now that the defensive future is bright, he may find himself on the outside looking in.
