Life-changing news for Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit: He is now a father

Last season, Simon Benoit saw his first NHL action with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and even after the team added three significant names via free agency, he's expected to play a huge role for the team in 2024/25. With training camp officially opening, he now has a chance to prove he belongs on the Maple Leafs blue line, but instead, he has missed a day of camp already.

Fortunately, it's for great news, as Benoit got some incredible news on his 26th birthday, as he and his partner were busy officially welcoming his first child into the world.

Benoit is currently signed to the Maple Leafs for a further two seasons, and according to Daily Faceoff, he will currently have a key role on the Toronto Maple Leafs third pairing. At 26-years of age, Benoit has struggled to consistently crack an NHL roster thus far, but in 2023/24, he showed how valuable he can be to the Maple Leafs, tallying a +7 differential and five points through 64 games with the team.

He may not be one of the most well recognized Maple Leafs, but every team needs players like Benoit, and if the Maple Leafs can get him a consistent role on the third pairing and get him learning behind Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, we could be looking at a key member of the team for a long time to come.

Now, the Quebec native is missing practice for one of the biggest and most exciting events in a persons life, and we hope that Benoit, his partner and the baby are all healthy and happy as he now has another motivating factor to make 2024/25 the best possible season he can, both on and off the ice.