Report: Maple Leafs "Want To Do Right By Matt Benning"

The Toronto Maple Leafs took care of one problem when they traded out-of-favour defenceman Timothy Liljegren this past week to the San Jose Sharks, clearing up some cap space. But they took on another issue when they received D-man Matt Benning in the deal. That still leaves them with a full 23-man roster, and the impending return of two pieces upcoming, in Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar.

It appears clear that Benning's time as a Maple Leaf will be short and sweet, as they look to move him elsewhere. Insider Elliotte Friedman, in a segment on Hockey Night in Canada this weekend, intimated that Benning doesn't really fit into what Toronto is trying to do, but that they will try to "do right" by the veteran defender.

Everybody knows they made one move this week, but they have a roster crunch they are going to have to deal with as everybody gets healthy. They acquired Matt Benning... And they have let it be known that they want to do right by Benning. He's a guy who is an NHL (caliber) player, he's more than capable of playing on a roster, and he just flew all the way across the country to meet the team and he went with them to St. Louis, and they are trying to do what's best for him. Teams know that he's available out there.

Benning, the 6'1", 200-pound nine-year NHL veteran doesn't bring much to the table offensively, but he is capable on the defensive end, and can block shots. He only played 14 games last season due to season-ending hip surgery, and in seven games this year with the Sharks, had a minus-5 rating in seven games, playing a career-low 13:02 minutes per game.

Hakanpaa and Dewar are ever closer to coming off LTIR for the Leafs, as they've been assigned to the Marlies in the AHL on a conditioning stint, and are likely to be activated (once the Leafs have room on the roster) within a week or so.

As for Benning, perhaps the NY Islanders are a potential destination as Friedman also revealed that the Isles are in the market to trade for a D-man.