'I'm Not Happy To Be Missing Out, But I Understand': Maple Leafs' Simon Benoit Taking a Positive Approach After Being Bumped Out of the Lineup Following Trade Deadline

But after loading up on some defensemen ahead of last week's NHL trade deadline, the Leafs were faced with a decision. Right-handed defenseman Timothy Liljegren has struggled this season. After acquiring Edmundson, Keefe made it a point to tell Liljegren that they weren't giving up on him. 

That came at the expense of Benoit, who gets it. But he'd also rather be playing.

"If you’re happy to be sitting out I don’t think you’re in the right sport," Benoit said. "I’m not happy to be missing out, but I understand. It’s part of the game and I’ll just do my best to get back in there."

Having gone undrafted after spending three seasons with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL, Benoit started his professional career in San Diego and went on to earn a pair of NHL contracts with the Anaheim Ducks. He came to Toronto with a bit of a chip on his shoulder this summer after Anaheim elected not to tender the defenseman a qualifying offer (he was eligible for salary arbitration). 

Benoit quickly won over the popularity of his teammates. Before the acquisition of Edmundson, Benoit was the biggest defenseman on the club at 6-foot-3 and still leads the club with 174 hits. 

There's an awareness of their similarities.

"We pretty much play the same way. He plays hard, I play a hard defensive game," Benoit said of Edmundson. "He’s been in the league such a long time that if I can learn a couple of tricks from him for the next couple of years, it’s going to help me down the line for sure and hopefully secure my spot for playoffs."

While in Montreal this weekend, Benoit did catch up with family and friends but it's clear it hurt for him not to play. that weekend. He still had to prepare to play in case someone got sick, taking part in the warmups that night. There might still be an opportunity if things change between now and April 6 when the Maple Leafs return to Bell Centre.

But in the meantime, Benoit aim is to take the same approach that got him his initial opportunity. He's going to be a pro.

"I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of players in this league that their first couple of years before being established, they had to sit in the stands during the playoffs because there were guys like Edmundson who have 500 games in the NHL," Benoit said. "I barely have 200. It’s understandable. It’s part of the game. 

"It’s not my first rodeo. I’ve been through it my whole career, so nothing changes for me."