Matt Benning focuses on impressing Maple Leafs after trade

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Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar are one step closer to making their respective debuts for the Maple Leafs.

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Whether defenceman Matt Benning actually wears the Leafs sweater in a game remains to be seen.

Hours after the Leafs assigned Hakanpaa and Dewar to the Toronto Marlies on LTIR conditioning loans, Benning skated in his first practice at the Ford Performance Centre on Friday, wearing No. 55.

Acquired from the San Jose Sharks in the trade on Wednesday that sent Timothy Liljegren to California, Benning is aware that his stop in Toronto could be brief.

Given the Leafs’ roster situation — they’re at the maximum of 23 players and Hakanpaa and Dewar will soon be ready to join the National Hockey League club — Benning is keeping an open mind.

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Provided there are no further injuries, Leafs general manager Brad Treliving will have to make another trade or place a couple of players on waivers in order to accommodate Hakanpaa, who is coming off a knee injury, and Dewar, who had off-season shoulder surgery.

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“That’s your guys’ job (to speculate),” Benning said. “I don’t really look into that. Whatever comes, comes.

“I’ve got to make it hard on decision-making to keep me here. If I get an opportunity to get in there and do well with it, that’s all I can control.”

Hakanpaa has been taking regular reps in practice in the Leafs defence corps for a while and Dewar has been getting a similar look among the depth forwards.

Each can be with the Marlies for up to six days and three games.

The Marlies’ next game is on Saturday in Cleveland against the Monsters, but their following game is not until next Saturday in Charlotte versus the Checkers.

Possibilities for waivers are defencemen Philippe Myers, who has played in one game this season, as well as Benning. Forward Pontus Holmberg could be a waivers candidate as well, and the same goes for Dewar. The Leafs have little interest in putting Nick Robertson on waivers, as he surely would be claimed.

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The only Leafs player who doesn’t need waivers to be sent to the Marlies is winger Matthew Knies. You have a better chance of becoming the Leafs’ next president than Knies does of being demoted.

Treliving could also make a trade that doesn’t involve Benning.

Winger Calle Jarnkrok (lower body) and defenceman Dakota Mermis (jaw) remain on long-term injured reserve.

If it turns out that Benning remains with the Leafs, the team will have a serviceable veteran who has played in 464 games in the NHL, recording 102 points (17 goals and 85 assists) and 239 penalty minutes. The 30-year-old Edmonton native played in seven games with the Sharks this season.

Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins 175th overall in 2012, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Benning played three seasons at Northeastern University and made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers in 2016-17.

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“Right-handed D, they’re hard to find, a lot of these guys,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “He looked good out there today, moved well, first practice. He plays a hard game, blocks a lot of shots. That’s the kind of player he is.”

Benning is a familiar face to some in the Leafs dressing room, having played with Steven Lorentz in San Jose, Anthony Stolarz in Edmonton and Myers in Nashville. Benning will get to know his new Leafs teammates better this weekend on the club’s trip to St. Louis and Minnesota for a back-to-back set against the Blues on Saturday and the Wild on Sunday.

Because the Leafs already have Simon Benoit, Ryan Reaves was among those wondering after practice what Benning’s nickname would be. With Benoit claiming Benny, Benzo apparently was settled on for Benning.

“I’m just along for the ride,” Benning said. “I think (being ready for anything) is part of the job. I’ve been around a decent amount.

“However they want to use me, I’m here now, happy to be here, and whatever way I can help is what I’ll do.”

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