Simon Benoit Not Happy Following His Recent Scratch, Reveals Who He Blames For His Situation

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to face off against one of their most heated rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, defenseman Simon Benoit is eager to prove he deserves a permanent spot in the lineup.

After being a healthy scratch for the last two games, Benoit took the opportunity to reflect on his performance on Monday. He also revealed that he holds only himself accountable for his absence from the ice due to his status as a healthy scratch.

As per Lance Hornby on X, Benoit admitted:

Benoit has recorded just 4 points in 43 games with the Maple Leafs this season, though he's not known for his offensive production.

His strengths lie in his physical play, as he has logged 120 hits this season and over 200 in each of the previous two seasons. He is also supposed to be a defensive defenseman, but yet the defensive aspects of his game have been lacking of late.

His style of play has often been described as reckless, with advanced statistics suggesting the Maple Leafs perform better when he's not on the ice. With that revelation, it's no wonder he was removed from the lineup.

With the emergence of Conor Timmins and Philippe Myers, the latter of whom has developed some chemistry with Morgan Rielly and signed a two-year extension at a modest $850K cap hit, Benoit has found himself as the odd man out in the last week, but appears determined to change his fate.

Benoit is slated to play on the third pairing tonight, and his performance could be crucial in determining his future with the team. Expect him to bring his best effort as he fights for his place in the lineup.