Maple Leafs Benoit Pledges Better Play After Review

Simon Benoit isn’t hiding from his struggles with the Maple Leafs this season.

"I have to be better. I’ve been too passive. I don’t have the knife in my teeth right now," the defenseman admitted frankly to The Hockey News.

He’s been thrown into a bigger role lately because of injuries, especially with Chris Tanev out of the lineup. And while he’s been hitting opponents more than any other Leafs defender, the rest of his game just isn’t clicking.

The numbers tell a tough story. He’s on the ice for about 18 minutes per game but has only managed two assists. His -2 plus-minus might not look terrible, but it’s what’s happening during play that’s concerning.

Here’s the real problem: it’s not about throwing more hits. It’s about timing and smart physical play.

When Benoit’s on the ice, the Leafs are getting outshot and outplayed. The other team seems to control the puck more and gets better scoring chances.

Watch his shifts and you’ll see why. He’s often a step behind when the other team rushes up the ice. He struggles to make clean passes out of his own end. And when he’s not sure what to do, he backs off and lets opposing players waltz right in.

It doesn’t help that he’s now facing better players than he’s used to. Going up against top forwards when you’re already struggling? That’s a recipe for trouble.

So what’s the fix?

The Leafs need to be smarter about how they use him. They should:

• Pair him with a defenseman who’s good at moving the puck
• Keep him away from the other team’s best players when possible
• Let him focus on what he does best – penalty killing and physical matchups

He also needs to make some changes to his game:

• Challenge puck carriers earlier
• Stop giving up the blue line so easily
• Be more careful about when he pinches in

A short break from the lineup might help too, especially if Tanev comes back soon. Sometimes watching a game or two from above helps players reset their thinking.

Benoit’s shown before he can be a solid NHL defender. But right now, he needs to find that sweet spot between being physical and being smart with the puck.