Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit's stats reveal something deeply troubling about his play
Simon Benoit from the Toronto Maple Leafs has faced criticism for his performance based on advanced analytics.
As reported by Hockey Patrol, despite being used heavily, a new data shows potential concerns about his impact on the ice, with statistics suggesting the team performs better when he's off the ice.
According to Kevin Papetti of The Athletic, the Maple Leafs have an Expected Goals For Percentage of 43.1% when Benoit is on the ice, compared to 53.6% when he's off.
Expected Goals For Percentage is a metric that shows a player's value in creating and preventing quality scoring chances, and Simon Benoit's numbers are the lowest among Leafs defensemen in 5v5 play.
Benoit also struggles in other metrics like Corsi For Percentage and Fenwick For Percentage, which measure shot attempts and unblocked shot attempts while on the ice.
Among NHL defensemen with over 200 minutes of ice time, Simon Benoit ranks eighth last in xGF% which is highlighting his struggles relative to peers across the league.
While Benoit isn't alone in needing improvement since players like Ryan Reaves and David Kämpf also show underwhelming analytics, his role as a defenseman amplifies the concerns.
The Toronto Maple Leafs rely heavily on their top-six forwards and top-four defensemen to carry the team, but addressing gaps like Simon Benoit's performance will be essential for long-term success.
Simon Benoit's 236 career NHL games which is including his tenure with the Anaheim Ducks, suggest he has the experience to bounceback, but the data reveals he'll need to upgrade his game both offensively and defensively to solidify his role in Toronto.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 31 | 220 ANSWERS Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit's stats reveal something deeply troubling about his play Do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs should find a replacement for Simon Benoit? | ||
| Yes | 70 | 31.8 % |
| No | 150 | 68.2 % |
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