Maple Leafs sign defenceman Simon Benoit to 1-year contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs added some depth on defence on Monday, agreeing to a one-year, $775,000 contract with Simon Benoit.

Benoit appeared in 78 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season, registering three goals and seven assists. The 24-year-old has recorded four goals and 11 helpers in 137 career regular-season games over parts of three seasons, all spent with Anaheim.

The Laval, Quebec native was originally signed by the AHL's San Diego Gulls in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. He spent three years with the club before earning his promotion to the NHL.

Benoit played his junior hockey with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL.

Toronto's defence corps already appeared set prior to the move, with Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie, Mark Giordano, John Klingberg, Jake McCabe and Timothy Liljegren all firmly established on the depth chart. Conor Timmins appeared in 25 games for the Leafs in 2022-23 and also figures to have a role.

Benoit can still be useful as an NHL-calibre rearguard should any of the regulars go down with injury.