The Canadiens are being linked to a rare Leafs deadline swap, and it’s not the one fans expect
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
A new article from The Hockey Writers linked Simon Benoit to the Montreal Canadiens but the return coming back is one Leafs fans might not expect.
The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs aren't two teams who normally come together to make a deal happen. You've got your minor deals like Tomas Plekanec and Mikhail Grabovski, but otherwise the two are fighting amongst each other as the NHL's most heated rivals.
It seems the two have also flip flopped this season, with the Canadiens sitting second place in the Atlantic Division meanwhile the Maple Leafs sit seventh, just ahead of the reigning champion Florida Panthers.
Arber Xhekaj for Simon Benoit? Not as crazy as you think
Though one article floating around has proposed the two come together again, as the Canadiens might be able to use one of Toronto's most physical players for a playoff push.
William Bourget of The Hockey Writers wrote about some options for the Canadiens on the back end when the subject of Benoit came up as a potential target.
He writes:
Simon Benoit would be a different type of addition, but one that makes a lot of sense. A Quebec native, Benoit plays a simple, physical defensive game. He blocks shots, finishes checks, and doesn’t try to do too much with the puck.
Unlike Stanley or Schenn, Benoit also has another year left on his contract after this season, giving Montreal a bit more control and continuity. That could be appealing for a team that doesn’t want to overcommit but also doesn’t want a pure rental.
Unlike Stanley or Schenn, Benoit also has another year left on his contract after this season, giving Montreal a bit more control and continuity. That could be appealing for a team that doesn’t want to overcommit but also doesn’t want a pure rental.
Benoit, a native of Laval, could be a perfect fit for a Canadiens team who could look to add a lot more physicality on the back end. He has 128 hits, which would put him second in d-men, and fourth on the entire team.
But it's the return that Benoit might bring back that is getting attention too, as Bourget believes Arber Xhekaj would be going the other way.
Toronto adding something fierce in Xhekaj in proposed deal
While it would give Maple Leafs fans pause as adding Xhekaj is basically like keeping Benoit, there is something to say about bringing in the Hamilton, Ontario native.
Xhekaj does not care who you are, if you get in his face or mess with his teammates then he'll let you know about it. While it gets him in trouble too, he brings a lot more energy and is a bit of a better skater than Benoit.
You're not going to get scoring from him but you wouldn't from Benoit either, and Xhekaj can certainly hold things down especially in the short-term.
Xhekaj, 25, has two points in 50 games with a minus-7, 104 PIM and 135 hits in 11:20 TOI.
Plus it would make it quite interesting to have the elder Xhekaj playing for the Maple Leafs meanwhile his younger brother Florian would still be part of the Canadiens system; adding another wrinkle into a century-long rivalry.
So while this might be a pipe dream considering how rare it is that both teams work together and fighting for playoff aspirations, this is a deal that could see Montreal add a bit of physicality while Toronto adds a whole lot of meanness.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 7|1690 ANSWERS The Canadiens are being linked to a rare Leafs deadline swap, and it’s not the one fans expect Would you take Arber Xhekaj in exchange for Simon Benoit? | ||
| Yes | 981 | 58 % |
| No | 709 | 42 % |
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