Ideal trade partner emerges for Simon Benoit and the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to deal off Simon Benoit this trade deadline, they could find themselves with a perfect partner that wouldn't be too far from home.
As the conversation around the Toronto Maple Leafs and their decision to sell ahead of the trade deadline, it's begun a debate over what exactly their assets could bring back, and where they may end up.
Edmonton has made a lot of noise regarding several players including Bobby McMann and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, meanwhile you have other teams like Colorado, Ottawa and others trying to throw their name into the mix if Toronto decides to set up shop.
Benoit bound for Buffalo? Leafs defender makes sense for Sabres
One player who is starting to get a lot more attention however is defenceman Simon Benoit, who could end up being a great piece for a team needing a cheap, physical blueliner with a bit of playoff experience.
A team who could use him according to one analyst would make sense, and for Benoit -- it wouldn't be too far from home.
Per Elliotte Friedman in his 32 Thoughts article, the Buffalo Sabres are looking to add a bigger defender ahead of their playoff push for the latter part of the season, and with who they have now, it makes sense why Benoit would be a fit:
The Sabres have indicated they are not interested in 'making their team worse,' a wise decision considering how hot they’ve been.
There come times you have to think about the now, reward your players and your fans.
I could see them adding a beefier blueliner, if possible.
There come times you have to think about the now, reward your players and your fans.
I could see them adding a beefier blueliner, if possible.
Right now, the Sabres are utilizing Jacob Bryson and Michael Kesselring as their third pairing, and while Kesselring is not a small player by any standards, Bryson is 5'9, 177-pounds; not exactly a threatening presence.
Why Benoit makes sense for the Buffalo Sabres
Benoit could be a great piece for the Sabres especially one who needs much more hitting and physicality. Right now, the Sabres only have two players with over 100 hits that being forward Beck Malenstyn and Peyton Krebs.
Benoit would leap to third on the team, and first among defensemen by a huge margin. He has 35 more hits than Buffalo's top defender Mattias Samuelsson and if the Sabres want a tougher presence for a playoff push; he's worth it.
At only $1.35-million and under contract for another season after this, Toronto already has a bevy of defenders they can replace Benoit with and find themselves with a couple extra assets they wouldn't have had before.
While management mulls over whether or not they should sell, if they do then it would be smart to give their highway rivals a call and see if Benoit would tickle their fancy.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 7|1260 ANSWERS Ideal trade partner emerges for Simon Benoit and the Maple Leafs Do you think Buffalo makes sense as a trade destination for Simon Benoit? | ||
| Yes | 775 | 61.5 % |
| No | 485 | 38.5 % |
| List of polls | ||