Oilers Seen as Possible Landing Spot for Maple Leafs Defenseman

After several weeks of analyzing potential top-nine forwards the Edmonton Oilers could target ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, insider Bob Stauffer revealed that their defensive struggles leading up to the Olympic break have altered GM Stan Bowman’s plans. The focus now: bolstering the blue line.

Reports from fellow insider David Pagnotta indicate that, in an ideal world, the Oilers would love to land a Mattias Ekholm-type defenseman. That, however, is far easier said than done, given their limited cap space and assets to acquire such a player. As a result, Bowman might need to shop for something smaller, and one target that has recently surfaced is Simon Benoit.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs’ rugged depth defenseman has appeared on trade boards in recent months, and Jeremy Tingly of Leafs Nation believes he could make a lot of sense in Edmonton.

Tingly wrote:

“Benoit is a great fit for the Oilers as he’ll come in, know his role, be a positive influence on the dressing room, and play a very physical, defence-first style. Benoit would immediately step onto the Oilers PK and make a significant impact, which is ranked 26th in the league, and he’s more than just a short-term fix, thanks to his extra year on his deal.

Edmonton only has $2.8 million in cap space to work with, and while they’ve been linked to the Maple Leafs for weeks in trade talks, it seems to be only centered around Benoit and McMann, just based on the fact not only do they fill holes for Bowman, they’re affordable, at least financially. We’ll have to wait and see if Bowman meets Treliving’s price tag, especially if it’s multiple pieces heading west,”

Benoit, 27, is in year two of the three-year, $4.05 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2024. He’s recorded three points (three assists) and dished out 128 hits across 49 games played this season.

At a very reasonable $1.35 million cap hit, Benoit would certainly appear to be a potential fit for the Oilers as a solid bottom-pairing option who’s tough to play against thanks to his size and physicality—exactly what Edmonton’s blue line could use for a playoff push. The fact that he’s not a rental and is under contract for both this season and next adds to the appeal, aligning with Bowman’s preference for targeting players with term.

Fans will likely want to see the Oilers swing bigger, and they should absolutely explore those opportunities if they arise. However, if nothing of that magnitude materializes, returning to a low-cost, dependable option like Benoit is a solid fallback plan.

Next: Ex-NHLer Suggests Maple Leafs Get Star Defenseman for Auston Matthews