Matt Benning is long past sweating the large stuff, like in his second season with the Edmonton Oilers when he says worry at some of his body of work caused him to lose some hair.

So, after his first extended season in the AHL last winter with the Maple Leafs organization after they got him and two draft picks from San Jose for Swedish D Timothy Liljegren in late October, 2024, the 31-year-old defenceman will roll with the punches when Toronto’s training camp opens next month.

Benning knows the score, this son of another NHL defenceman Brian, the grandson of his late decorated amateur hockey scout Elmer, charged with finding kids who might be able to play in the best league in the world. Matt has played close to 500 NHL games as a sixth-round draft pick in 2012—only one player, Connor

See Full Page