Matt Benning

Matt Benning
Born (1994-05-25) May 25, 1994 (age 30)
St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Edmonton Oilers
Nashville Predators
San Jose Sharks
NHL draft 175th overall, 2012
Boston Bruins
Playing career 2016–present

Matthew Benning (born May 25, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks. He was selected 175th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the Boston Bruins.

Playing career

Benning played two seasons of Junior A hockey for the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), one season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints junior team, then played for the Northeastern University Huskies from 2013 to 2016.

Professional (2016–present)

Edmonton Oilers (2016–2020)

As Benning remained an unsigned draft pick of the Boston Bruins, he opted to sign a two-year, entry-level contract with his hometown club, the Edmonton Oilers, on August 27, 2016.[1]

After attending his first Oilers training camp, he unexpectedly made the Oilers opening night roster for the 2016–17 season. After sitting as a healthy scratch, he was reassigned to make his professional debut with American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. After two games with the Condors, Benning was recalled and made his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 1, 2016.[2] He scored his first NHL goal against Cory Schneider of the New Jersey Devils on January 7, 2017.[3] On February 3, in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Benning suffered a concussion after he was hit by Hurricanes’ forward Viktor Stålberg, resulting in him missing the next 20 games.[4]

Nashville Predators (2020–2022)

As an impending restricted free agent and due to salary cap considerations, Benning was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Oilers on October 7, 2020, and was released to free agency.[5] On October 9, Benning signed a two-year contract with the Nashville Predators.[6]

San Jose Sharks (2022–2024)

At the conclusion of his contract with the Predators, Benning left as a free agent and was signed to a four-year contract with the San Jose Sharks on July 13, 2022.[7] On December 3, 2023, Benning suffered a season-ending injury, which required a hip surgery.[8] Before the injury he recorded two assists in 14 games during that season.[9]

After seven games in the 2024–25 season, on October 30, 2024, the Sharks traded Benning and two draft picks to the Toronto Maple Leafs, in exchange for Timothy Liljegren.[10]

Personal life

Benning was born in St. Albert, Alberta in 1994. He is the son of former NHL defenceman Brian Benning, who was born in Edmonton and played for the same AJHL Saints franchise (then located in St. Albert) 27 years before his son, and also featured with the Oilers through his 10-year career. His uncle, Jim Benning, played 10 seasons as an NHL defenceman and is the former general manager of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.[11]

Benning is the older brother of Florida Panthers defenceman Michael Benning.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 Spruce Grove Saints AJHL 43 0 7 7 65 13 0 1 1 20
2011–12 Spruce Grove Saints AJHL 44 4 14 18 87 11 2 1 3 16
2012–13 Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL 57 10 16 26 73 11 1 1 2 6
2013–14 Northeastern University HE 33 3 10 13 28 — — — — —
2014–15 Northeastern University HE 36 0 24 24 36 — — — — —
2015–16 Northeastern University HE 41 6 13 19 37 — — — — —
2016–17 Bakersfield Condors AHL 2 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2016–17 Edmonton Oilers NHL 62 3 12 15 29 12 0 3 3 12
2017–18 Edmonton Oilers NHL 73 6 15 21 49 — — — — —
2018–19 Edmonton Oilers NHL 70 5 12 17 33 — — — — —
2019–20 Edmonton Oilers NHL 43 1 7 8 15 4 0 1 1 6
2019–20 Bakersfield Condors AHL 3 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2020–21 Nashville Predators NHL 53 1 3 4 30 5 0 0 0 6
2021–22 Nashville Predators NHL 65 0 11 11 39 3 0 1 1 0
2022–23 San Jose Sharks NHL 77 1 23 24 26 — — — — —
2023–24 San Jose Sharks NHL 14 0 2 2 14 — — — — —
2024–25 San Jose Sharks NHL 7 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
NHL totals 464 17 85 102 239 24 0 5 5 24

See also

References

  1. ^ "College free agent, Matt Benning signs with Oilers". Edmonton Journal. August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "Benning not to blame for loss". thehockeywriters.com. November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  3. ^ Frankson, Ryan (January 7, 2017). "GAME STORY: Oilers 2, Devils 1". Newark, NJ: National Hockey League. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  4. ^ OriginalPouzar (August 22, 2018). "Edmonton Oilers 2018 Top 25 Under 25: #9 Matt Benning". coppernblue.com. SB Nation. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "Oilers won't qualify 8 RFA's". The Sports Network. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "Predators add blue-liner Matt Benning on two-year deal". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "Sharks sign defenseman Matt Benning". San Jose Sharks. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "San Jose Sharks Statement on Matt Benning". NHL.com. January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  9. ^ "Sharks defenseman Matt Benning undergoes season-ending hip surgery". NHLPA.com. January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "Liljegren traded to Sharks by Maple Leafs for Benning, picks". www.nhl.com. October 30, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  11. ^ "Oilers ink St. Albert's Matt Benning to two-year deal". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  12. ^ "Florida Panthers agree to terms with Defenseman Mike Benning". Florida Panthers. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.