Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving has been active in the trade market this season, most recently acquiring defenseman Matt Benning from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Timothy Liljegren. But Treliving’s work might not be finished, as rumors swirl about the possibility of flipping Benning to free up roster space.
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, who shared insight on Insider Trading, the Maple Leafs are strongly considering another move. With Toronto already at the 23-man roster limit, adding Benning not only helped with defensive depth but also created a challenge in managing roster space, especially as they expect defensemen Jani Hakanpaa and Dakota Mermis to return soon from long-term injured reserve (LTIR).
“Yeah, no doubt about [the possibility of the Leafs moving Benning],” Dreger said. “It has more to do with roster space as opposed to the cap issues that the Toronto Maple Leafs seem to tangle with on a day-in and day-out basis annually.”
Benning, who brings a dependable presence on the blue line and carries a manageable $1.25 million cap hit through next season, was an attractive acquisition for the Leafs. Treliving saw Benning as a valuable insurance policy on defense, especially in the absence of Liljegren. However, with defensive reinforcements soon arriving from LTIR, Benning’s contract might become an asset that Toronto can leverage to add more flexibility or assets in another trade.
If Benning is indeed moved, the Leafs could pursue multiple options to manage their roster, including conditioning stints for players in the AHL or placing a different player on waivers. For now, the clock is ticking for Toronto to find a way to balance their defense lineup effectively while keeping future cap space in check.
As Treliving continues to navigate Toronto’s cap and roster challenges, Leafs fans can expect a fluid situation and potentially more moves in the coming days as the team prepares for a long season ahead.
