{"id":2634,"date":"2026-04-13T11:44:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T11:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/2634\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T11:44:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T11:44:57","slug":"the-maple-leafs-need-a-young-centre-and-darren-dreger-hints-that-mathew-beniers-is-available","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/2634\/","title":{"rendered":"The Maple Leafs need a young centre and Darren Dreger hints that Mathew Beniers is available"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t \"Seattle <\/p>\n

Photo credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Matty Beniers would be the centre who could put Toronto over the top and word from TSN’s Darren Dreger shows that he very well could be available.<\/p>\n

As the Maple Leafs look to make massive improvements this summer, a lot of that is going to come down to whether or not they can add some more youth and speed to their lineup<\/a> and start to move away from relying on slow, aging veterans.<\/p>\n

It’s going to be difficult to bring someone in given they don’t have a ton of draft capital however they may not need to go that route.<\/p>\n

The reason Seattle is considering a move with Matty Beniers and why Toronto must jump in<\/p>\n

News from Darren Dreger<\/a> should have Maple Leafs fans excited as he named Seattle Kraken centre Matty Beniers as a player who could be on the move given that Seattle might not be too impressed with his progress so far:<\/p>\n

I don’t think he’s reached his top level yet; if Seattle isn’t convinced of that and he is potentially a piece that might fetch you something better; if I were a team…where I’m shipping players out, he’d be high on my list.<\/p>\n

Beniers, 23, was a second-overall pick in 2021 however hasn’t exactly hit his stride. In 328 games he has 194 points (82 goals 112 assists) and was the Calder Trophy winner in 2022-23 but has yet to reach those heights again.<\/p>\n

But it’s also his possession numbers that are slipping with his Corsi going from 56% to 53%; he’s still above the average but there’s a bit of regression in that aspect.<\/p>\n

The one knock on Beniers could be his face-off ability which is solid but nothing that touches some of the better pivots in the game.<\/p>\n

Toronto needs someone like Beniers who can come in while still young and a bit raw and be put with some guys who can help get him back on track offensively.<\/p>\n

William Nylander would assuredly love to have him on his line for the next half decade, and he could replace Auston Matthews if he ends up leaving.<\/p>\n

How landing a former second overall pick like Matty Beniers accelerates the 2027 rebuild<\/p>\n

Well, you can almost think of Beniers as your draft pick considering he’s still young and the fact that he was a top selection; you can always hang your hat on adding a player of that calibre.<\/p>\n

The Maple Leafs are looking to shift their focus and sell on a bunch of players so if they were to put a package together that would give Seattle a lot more depth overall at the cost of Beniers \u2014 to them it may be worth it.<\/p>\n

Plus it would be a bit of a nice consolation prize as Toronto lost Bobby McMann to the Kraken<\/a> at the deadline, and taking one of their top players in a big swap would instantly show the NHL that they mean business.<\/p>\n

He already can play 2C for you, so John Tavares can move down and you’re able to use your young wingers to surround the veteran, meanwhile you can bring in a youth trio to man the fourth line and with Beniers locked up until 2031, you’ve got a star for years who you don’t need to replace for a long time.<\/p>\n

You’re essentially trading a big package for an already drafted player but with the fact that the Toronto can add a potential elite talent in Beniers for only the cost of a few players they want to get rid of anyways \u2014 Matty as a Maple Leafs is a very real possibility.<\/p>\n

Previously on Hockey Patrol<\/p>\n

POLL<\/p>\n

36 MINUTES AGO|15 ANSWERS<\/p>\n

The Maple Leafs need a young centre and Darren Dreger hints that Mathew Beniers is available<\/p>\n

Should the Maple Leafs trade for Matty Beniers?<\/p>\n

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