Benoit has no trade protection on his contract and can be moved at will. The Maple Leafs need to become more mobile and offensive from their blueline, so don’t be surprised to see Treliving get an immediate new tool before the March 6 trade deadline. Here are five teams to watch as potential destinations if Benoit is shipped out of Toronto:
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are an easy addition here, based on the fact that they only have two defensemen under contract for next season, and know Benoit well from his few seasons as the rival Anaheim Duck. Sharks general manager Mike Grier isn’t just looking for upgrades to his blueline before the deadline, he’s also interested in blueliners who have term on their current deal.
The Sharks have exceeded expectations so far this season and Grier is expected to expand his roster to give his young core a chance to make their first Stanley Cup Playoffs. Benoit won’t be a major game changer for the Sharks, but he can provide a steady physical presence and be an effective penalty killer. San Jose’s PK is ranked 21st in the league, so Benoit could make a huge impact immediately without even getting close to the scoresheet.
Edmonton Oil Companies
Benoit would immediately step up to the Oilers PK and make a significant impact, which ranks 26th in the league, and he’s more than just a short-term fix thanks to the extra year on his contract.
Anaheim Ducks
Benoit could very well end up back with the Ducks before this season’s deadline. Anaheim is an emerging team that is exceeding expectations this year, entering the Olympic break with a 30-23-3 record, good for the second wild card position in the Western Conference.
General Pat Verbeek doesn’t want to commit too much long-term financially, which was one of the reasons the Ducks lost to Artemi Panarin, as Verbeek wasn’t interested in paying Panarin before adding to his young core. The Anaheim executive doesn’t have to worry about Benoit breaking the bank, as his $1.3 million cap hit is an easy addition when you have $36.8 million in cap space to work with.
Anaheim lines up nicely with the Maple Leafs as a trade partner, as they have several NHL-ready prospects and have secured all of their picks for this year’s draft. Verbeek can be creative, and it wouldn’t be surprising if a team that makes a deal with the Maple Leafs ends up acquiring multiple pieces.
Treliving will be open to just about anything before the March 6 deadline, but don’t expect to see a deal straight out of the gate after the break. It is expected that Treliving will give the Leafs a chance to win as many games as possible before the deadline, and then he will judge from there.
Pittsburgh penguins
The Pens have surprised many this season, entering the break with a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 29-15-12. With the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the horizon, GM Kyle Dubas could return to his former team to make some upgrades before the trade deadline.
Pittsburgh has several defensemen pending free agents entering the offseason, and with a lot of interest in turning defenseman Brett Kulak, Dubas could move away from one veteran to upgrade up front, and then also bring in Benoit as a cheaper option, who he knows, and more importantly, is under contract for next season at a very reasonable cap hit.
The Penguins already have a strong PK, so Benoit could be another depth option for head coach Dan Muse. Benoit is also closely linked to Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and has a former teammate in Rickard Rakell, so the transition to a new team could be seamless in this scenario.
Dubas is not necessarily active in the rental market, because he continues to think long-term with his selection. Benoit makes a lot of sense as an under-the-radar addition who could have a serious impact on the defensive side of the puck this season and next.
Boston Bruins
Boston ranks 28th in the league in penalty killing efficiency and could use Benoit’s skills to bolster their d-zone coverage. With less than $4 million in cap space, it feels like the Bruins are going to make changes around the edges of their roster, rather than something significant for their top six, and Benoit is one of the better blueline options available on the trade market.
We know Minten isn’t coming back to Toronto anytime soon, but maybe there’s a B-level candidate and a mid-round pick that GM Don Sweeney is open to parting with. Benoit’s game is perfectly aligned with the Bruins’ playoff hockey, so he will definitely be on their trade radar before March 6.
PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF OLYMPIC COVERAGE
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