The Montreal Canadiens are expected to be buyers ahead of the trade deadline, and one area of need is defense.
Montreal is battling for a playoff spot, and with the Eastern Conference wide open, the Canadiens could go all-in this year ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. Ahead of the deadline, NHL analyst Spencer Lazary of NHLTradeTalk links the Canadiens to Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit.
“The first and most obvious name is Simon Benoit. He is a reliable depth defenceman who would fit nicely in Montreal,” Lazary wrote. “Not only is he a Quebec native, but he also fills a role that is missing on the Canadiens’ blue line.
“As a defensive defenceman, he plays a physical, gritty style. He is not afraid to block shots or sacrifice his body. In addition, he would be a solid addition for a Canadiens team that could use another depth option on the back end ahead of the playoffs.”
Benoit is from Quebec, so he would become a fan-favorite in Montreal. The hard-hitting defenseman can become part of a shutdown pair as he plays a physical role.
Benoit is in the second year of his three-year, $4.05 million deal, so he could be part of the Canadiens’ roster for two playoff runs.
Canadiens Expected to be Buyers
Montreal is holding onto a playoff spot, and the Canadiens are expected to be buyers ahead of the deadline.
The Canadiens are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and their play has impressed Montreal’s president of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton.
“I think it tells you that our team’s evolving as a pretty good team, and they’re confident that they’re pretty good, and I think somewhere along the way we’re a team that thinks we can win every night,” Gorton said to Sportsnet.
“I don’t know if that was necessarily true 12-15 months ago. But I think we’ve developed that,” Gorton continued. “I think the coaches and the players have done a pretty good job of developing that. The expectation every night is to win and not just be competing. I think our team has become very confident in their play. They feel like they’re good. They know they’re going to be in every game if they play the right way, and that’s newer for us. It’s not new, but it’s newer to hear the quotes from around the league about the way we play and how we’re coached and how we’re built, and those are all good signs of our evolution and where we’re going.”
The Canadiens entered the Olympic break with a record of 32-17-8 and are holding onto the second spot in the Atlantic Division.
Maple Leafs Likely to Sell Benoit
Toronto has struggled this season, and the Maple Leafs are expected to be sellers ahead of the deadline.
Benoit will likely be sought after as he’s affordable and a hard-nosed defenseman. He’s a solid third-pairing defenseman who proved last year he can play well in the playoffs. The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn named Benoit as a potential trade candidate.
“He has over 200 hits in each of the last three seasons. And is on pace to reach that number again this season. He hasn’t played a ton in the playoffs other than the last two seasons in Toronto,” Fairburn wrote. “The Maple Leafs should be looking to sell, and Benoit is a player worth targeting.”
Benoit has 0 goals and 3 assists for 3 points in 49 games this season.
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