Imagine you get called up to play your first game for the Toronto Maple Leafs and you watch your captain tie Mats fucking Sundin for the all-time Leafs goal record AND THEN he passes him in the same game and the bench clears to celebrate him because you’re a bunch of kids pretending to be men but as everyone starts clearing off the ice and the crowd around him dwindles you feel kinda awkward because you really you barely know the guy so you just sorta nod at him AND to top it all off you somehow get a bloody nose
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4.9. Matt Benning #5
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Slide 37: Matt Benning #5
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Matt Benning #5 [NOTE: Larger title text.]
oensible: I could not find much info on this guy to be honest. he is just Some Guy in everything I’ve seen of him. Good for him
6th round (24th) draft pick by the Bruins in 2012, 175th overall.
makes donuts for his neighbors and teammates as a Christmas tradition
also has multiple family members that are playing/played as defensemen in the NHL!
played in juniors and NCAA for a few years
Signed as a free agent by the Oilers (hometown team!!) on 2016 Aug 27
He didn’t sign with the Bruins because the GM that drafted him was Jim Benning, his uncle, and he didn’t want to seem like a nepo baby. He later told Edmonton press that he would have refused to sign with Vancouver too since Jim was GM there when he hit free agency
signed as free agent by the Preds on 2020 Oct 9
signed as free agent by the Sharks (!!) on 2022 Jul 13
wanted by GM Mike Grier for veteran experience, physicality, possible offensive edge
literally made an offer as soon as he became a free agent
signed him for 4 yrs, 1.25M USD AAV
happy with the job security (he’s currently 29) and also the weather! good for him <3
described as “professional” by DQ and “calming” by Couture
one among many veteran presences pulled in to help support the rookies in the rebuild
last season (2022–23) with the Sharks was a career high!
near top of all league defensemen in assists per 60 minutes
career-high 24 points (1 g, 23 a)
2nd PK unit, more offensive role than he had with the Preds
career-high 19:46 TOI per game
this season, only played 14 games due to a persistent injury
out with a lower body injury since Dec 3
will be out for the rest of the season to recover from hip surgery, but expected to return for the next training camp at the start of next season!
Also previously played with Luke Kunin on the Preds + injured Nico Sturm in a playoff series. Small world!
Last heard the escape room unit is trying to recruit him
He got hit into the boards from behind (dangerous) and the whole glass panel popped out. Fortunately I don’t think anyone was seriously hurt 👍
Assorted videos:
Oilers Future Watch (2016.11.17)—models his game after Drew Doughty, would most like to play with Paul Coffey, also likes tennis and golf, fav movie was Grease (1978)
Oilers’ 1-ON-1 (2018.07.17)—talks about his wedding, the Oilers team that year, and also a little about about growing up in Edmonton.
He’s also been on the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast multiple times. I didn’t listen to any of their stuff with him (yet) but that’s there if you’re interested
I said this when he first came up as a slide but fr i did not know this man existed even after months of following the Sharks RIP our girls the healthiest team in the league <3
[Figure 1 image description: Thumbnail of Youtube video True Blue: The Sophomores, featuring Drake Caggiula and Matt Benning staring into the camera. Figure 1 image description end.]
Fig. 1: True Blue episode ft. college-rival-turned-Oilers-roommate Drake Caggiula
Last updated: 2024 Feb 21
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Slide 38: Matt Benning #5—pictures
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Matt Benning #5 [NOTE: Larger title text.]
During the quarantine, lived at his family’s farm and got stuck in the snow and went on walks.
oensible: but I CAN’T EMBED THESE VIDEOS BECAUSE GSLIDES SUCKS!!
[Figure 1 image description: Matt Benning smiling at practice with the Sharks. Figure 1 image description end.]
Fig. 1: at practice. San Jose Sharks/Facebook
[Figure 2 image description: Matt Benning wearing the Sharks' Retro Reverse scarf, posing with one hand on his hip. Figure 2 image description end.]
Fig. 2: THE CUNT!!! THE CUNT San Jose Sharks/Twitter
[Figure 3 image description: Matt Benning holding Gill while he's sleeping. Figure 3 image description end.]
Fig. 3: with Gill, service dog in training Sharks Pup/Twitter
[Figure 4 image description: Picture of Gill giving kisses to Matt Benning. Figure 4 image description end.]
Fig. 4: with Gill Sharks Pup/Twitter
[Figure 5 image description: Matt Benning sitting on the floor with Gill. Figure 5 image description end.]
Fig. 5: with Gill at a wine sampling event Sharks Pup/Twitter.
- For more Matt and Gill see this Twitter video
[Figure 6 image description: Svech and Benning “pose” in the Reverse Retro jackets that are teal and yellow Figure 6 image description end.]
Fig. 6: (right) showing off the 22–23 reverse retro jacket ft. Evgeny Svechnikov. I am well and truly obsessed with how he has decided to button it up San Jose Sharks/Twitter
