The Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks shocked everyone on Wednesday evening when they combined for a trade which involved a former Boston Bruins prospect.
Today it was confirmed by Chris Johnston that the San Jose Sharks sent former Boston Bruins draft pick Matt Benning, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Timothy Liljegren.
Ever since last season came to an end, and the Leafs made some upgrades to their defense, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been trying to move Timothy Liljegren, and it seems they finally got a deal that they liked, and sent him to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for former Bruins draft pick.
Benning, who is now 30, was drafted by the Boston Bruins during the 2012 Entry Level Draft with the 175th overall which is the 6th round. Benning never actually played a game for the Boston Bruins organization as the Bruins opted to not sign the 6-foot-1 defenseman to his entry level deal after he was done playing his collegiate career with the Northeastern University, and would go on to join the Edmonton Oilers in 2016.
Benning has turned out to be a solid shutdown defenseman, something the Bruins are struggling to get out of their defence at the moment. In 464 games played between the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks organizations, Benning has 17 goals, 85 assists, for 102 points, and also has 714 hits.
The Toronto Maple Leafs now have another solid shutdown defenseman option to add to their arsenal after acquiring the former Bruins prospect.