Goodbye & Thanks to Simon Benoit for Hard Hat Hockey
Just last week, Simon Benoit was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Philadelphia Flyers. Although everyone knows it's part of the business of being a professional hockey player, sometimes, certain players stand out, and you just root for them because you can't help yourself. Benoit was one of the good guys.
When he first landed in Toronto, few expected him to stay.
When Benoit arrived in Toronto from Anaheim, there wasn’t much fanfare. In fact, if we’re being honest, most people probably looked at the numbers first and figured this was just another depth defender trying to hang on in the league. A minus-29 season will do that to a reputation, fair or not. But hockey has always been a funny game like that. What shows up on a stat sheet isn’t always what shows up on the ice night after night.
From the start, Benoit felt like one of those players who understood exactly what he was in the NHL to do. He wasn’t here to run a power play or dazzle anyone with puck movement. He was here to defend, to simplify, and to make life a little harder for the other team whenever he stepped over the boards. And he did that, game after game.
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Benoit was a player who didn’t quit on the play — ever.
There were nights when he’d make a mistake — a missed read, a bobbled puck, a moment that could’ve gone the other way quickly. But what stood out wasn’t the mistake itself. It was what came after it.
More often than not, Benoit didn’t hang his head. He turned and went to work. Hard work. Full stride, full commitment, trying to erase it. And sometimes, he actually did. He’d get back into the play, throw his body in the lane, or break up what looked like a sure scoring chance.
That kind of effort doesn’t always show up in highlight reels, but teammates notice it. Coaches notice it. And fans who pay attention notice it too. I came to appreciate this blueliner’s work ethic, even without high-end skill.
Benoit had a simple role, and he played it the hard way.
Benoit was never going to be confused with an offensive defenceman. That wasn’t his job in Toronto, and it never really was. He was a stay-at-home defenceman in the old sense — big, physical, willing, and consistent in effort even when the game got messy.
There’s value in that. Maybe more than people like to admit in a league that’s always chasing speed and skill. He played hurt when he had to. He played tired when he had to. And through it all, he kept showing up the same way: ready to compete, ready to absorb minutes, ready to do the unglamorous work that keeps teams moving.
So this is just a simple thank you for your dedication to the team.
Not every player becomes a star in Toronto. Not every player needs to. Some players just do their job, night after night, without much noise or complaint. Benoit was one of those guys.
So this is just a thank you. For the effort. For the attitude. For the willingness to step into a tough market, take the criticism, and still play the same way the next night. He may not have been the headline player. But he was the kind of player every team needs somewhere in the lineup.
And in Toronto, some fans notice that more than people think. Good luck in Philadelphia.