Maple Leafs ink Benoit to 1-year deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Simon Benoit to a one-year contract worth $775,000, the team announced Monday.

Benoit tallied three goals and 10 points in 78 games with the Anaheim Ducks in 2022-23. The 6-foot-3 blue-liner accumulated 60 penalty minutes and had a minus-29 rating while playing 19:21 per contest.

The 24-year-old led the Ducks and ranked 21st league-wide with 216 hits.

Anaheim didn't tender Benoit a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. He'll be a restricted free agent at the expiration of his new deal next summer.

The Laval, Quebec native accrued 15 points in 137 games with the Ducks over parts of three seasons. He was signed by Anaheim as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

The Maple Leafs have eight NHL defensemen under contract after the signing.

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