ANAHEIM, California — In the euphoric aftermath of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ wild overtime comeback victory over Lukas Dostal and the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, starting goaltender Martin Jones debated who should receive the team’s player-of-the-game wrestling belt.
John Tavares, the clutch captain, who finally solved a dialed-in Dostal in the third period?
Auston Matthews, the buzzsaw who ripped through 20 shots and pounded his 30th goal and first game-winner of the season?
Nah.
Jones walked forward past the marquee, handing the glittery prize to the lanky, mustachioed francophone in the ratty, sweat-stained shoulder pads.
“I can’t score an f—–‘ goal,” a beaming Simon Benoit told his teammates inside his old barn’s visitors’ room. “But I’m glad to hit the bodies for you guys.”
Then
Despite starting 60% of his shifts in the defensive zone and being matched up against the opposition’s biggest forwards, Benoit is still on the plus side of the ledger and is gradually earning more trust from his teammates and the coaching staff because he protects the net, stuffs cycles, and disrupts passes.
“He’s our most important defender.” “He’s our most physically imposing defender,” Keefe adds. “And, to me, he just continues to get better.”
Sure, Benoit would like to contribute offensively at some point this season — he set career highs in goals (three) and points (ten) with the Ducks last season — but he’s embraced his defensive role in Toronto.
As a result, a fan base desperate for tangible evidence of hockey’s intangibles — care, grit, and courage — has flocked to the game.
D-man embraced the depth back.
What does it matter if Benoit wins his fights? Despite his low-wage salary ($775,000), the man is willing to fight.
Tweet that the Maple Leafs should re-sign the pending free agent, and you’ll have the week’s most liked take.
A common piece of advice for any skater on the verge of making a roster: Make yourself known.
