Simon Benoit Bio
Simon Benoit is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born in Laval, Quebec, Benoit has worked his way up through junior and minor professional ranks to establish himself as a steady, physical presence on the blue line. He began his professional career in 2018 and has suited up for the Anaheim Ducks, the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL), and the Toronto Marlies, in addition to the Maple Leafs. Known for his hitting and dependable defensive play, Benoit continues to be a regular contributor for Toronto.
Early Life and Background
Simon Benoit was born on September 19, 1998, in Laval, Quebec, Canada. Growing up in the Greater Montreal area placed him in the heart of one of Canada’s most passionate hockey regions, where youth ice sports are deeply embedded in community life. As a young player, he developed his game in local minor hockey programs and eventually joined the Laval-Montréal Rousseau Royal of the Ligue de hockey M18 AAA du Québec (LHMU18AAA). That experience in a competitive midget-level league helped him refine the defensive skills that have come to define his professional career.
Benoit’s progression through Quebec’s junior hockey system gave him valuable exposure to high-tempo competition. His steady development in the M18 AAA ranks drew the attention of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) scouts, setting the stage for his next step in the sport.
Path to Professional Hockey
Following his time with the Rousseau Royal, Benoit was selected by the Shawinigan Cataractes in the eighth round, 129th overall, of the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft. He spent three seasons with the Cataractes, sharpening his game against some of the top junior talent in North America. Although he was not drafted by an NHL club, his performance in the QMJHL was strong enough to earn an opportunity at the professional level.
On September 25, 2018, Benoit signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, the primary affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. In his rookie professional season of 2018-19, he led the Gulls in plus-minus with a +16 rating, scoring 2 goals and 16 points across 65 regular-season games. That strong showing convinced the Ducks to sign him to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2019-20 season.
Simon Benoit Career
Early Career (2018-2021)
Benoit’s early professional years were spent primarily with the San Diego Gulls, where he became a reliable defender on the back end. His 2018-19 performance set the tone for his development, as he demonstrated the kind of responsible two-way play that organizations value in young defencemen. He continued to add dependable defensive contributions over the following two seasons, earning the trust of the Gulls’ coaching staff.
During the 2020-21 season, while in his third year with the Gulls, Benoit earned his first NHL recall. He made his NHL debut on April 29, 2021, appearing on the Ducks’ third defensive pairing. He went scoreless in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in that debut, logging 12 minutes of ice time and signaling his readiness for the top level.
Anaheim Ducks Breakthrough (2021-2023)
Benoit played his first full NHL season with the Anaheim Ducks in 2021-22. On October 28, 2021, he scored his first NHL goal in his eighth game with the Ducks, a game-tying goal against the Buffalo Sabres in a 4-3 overtime loss. That milestone confirmed his offensive upside while he continued to handle a regular defensive role.
Across his five seasons within the Anaheim organization, Benoit developed into a physical, stay-at-home defenceman who was trusted in defensive-zone matchups. The Ducks relied on him for penalty-killing duties and for providing a steady presence alongside more offensively minded partners.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2023-Present)
As a pending restricted free agent following the 2022-23 season, Benoit was not tendered a qualifying offer by Anaheim and became an unrestricted free agent. On August 28, 2023, he signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After being placed on waivers and assigned to the Toronto Marlies, he was recalled on November 4, 2023, following an injury to Timothy Liljegren. He made his Maple Leafs debut in a 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 6, 2023.
After 54 games with Toronto, during which he led the team in hits with 205, Benoit was rewarded with a three-year extension worth an average annual value of $1.35 million. His physical, defense-first style has made him a fixture in the Maple Leafs’ lineup. In the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, Benoit produced one of the most memorable moments of his career, earning a primary assist on Max Domi’s overtime goal in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Ottawa Senators. Two days later, he scored his first playoff goal, also in overtime, in Game 3 at the Canadian Tire Centre, giving Toronto a 3-0 series lead.
Playing Style and Strengths
Benoit is recognized as a defensive-minded defenceman whose strengths lie in physicality, shot blocking, and reliable gap control. He thrives in tight-checking games and on the penalty kill, where his willingness to engage along the boards and clear the front of the net provides clear value. His craft is built on positioning rather than flash, and he has earned his ice time by being a consistent, hard-to-play-against presence in his own zone.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Benoit’s most significant moments are his first NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres in 2021, his Maple Leafs debut win over Tampa Bay in 2023, and his overtime goal against Ottawa in the 2025 playoffs. That playoff marker drew comparisons to former Maple Leafs defenceman Cory Cross, who also scored an overtime goal for Toronto during the 2001 playoffs to deliver a 3-0 series lead.
Simon Benoit Career Wins
Simon Benoit has notched several memorable wins and milestone games since turning professional in 2018, with his most prominent victories coming as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. While goals and points have not been the headline of his career, the games and series outcomes in which he has played pivotal roles have stood out.
Toronto Maple Leafs Highlights
Benoit’s Maple Leafs tenure began with a 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 6, 2023. In the 2025 playoffs, his overtime goal in Game 3 against the Ottawa Senators gave Toronto a commanding 3-0 series lead, one of the most significant individual moments of his NHL career to date.
Other Wins and Performances
With the Anaheim Ducks, Benoit’s NHL debut resulted in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on April 29, 2021. In the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, he was a key piece of a defensive corps that supported a strong plus-minus performance in his rookie 2018-19 season.
Simon Benoit Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Simon Benoit was raised in Laval, Quebec, and built his early hockey foundation in the Greater Montreal area. Public details about his parents and extended family remain limited.
Personal Life
Benoit has one child, born in September 2024, with his longtime girlfriend. He continues to make his off-season home in the Greater Toronto Area while playing for the Maple Leafs.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season has been a defining one for Simon Benoit, both in the regular season and the playoffs. Locked into a regular top-six defensive role with the Maple Leafs, he continued to lead by example with his physical play and penalty-killing reliability, reinforcing the trust Toronto placed in him with his three-year extension.
The biggest stage of the year came in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, where Benoit delivered one of the team’s most important moments. His primary assist on Max Domi’s overtime winner in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Ottawa Senators was followed two days later by his own overtime goal in Game 3 at the Canadian Tire Centre, putting Toronto up 3-0 in the series. The performance cemented his reputation as a player capable of rising to the moment.
Looking ahead, Benoit remains a central part of Toronto’s defensive plans, with his combination of size, hitting, and shot-blocking continuing to fit the identity the Maple Leafs have built around him.