Matt Benning gets placed on waivers, former teammate warns to stay clear

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Finnegan Frost
November 11, 2024 (6:36 PM)

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Breaking news in the NHL as former Edmonton Oilers defenceman Matt Benning has been placed back on the waiver wire by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A few weeks ago, Toronto received defenseman Matt Benning, a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Matt Benning, 30, is currently signed to a 4 year, $5,000,000 contract with a cap hit of $1,250,000 per season. His contract was signed on July 13, 2022, and expires at the end of the 2025-26 season, when Benning will be 32 years old.

According to Liam McCormick of Oilers Daily, the Edmonton native Benning began his career with the Oilers in the 2016-17 season, and went on to play 4 seasons with the team as a depth defenceman. Since then, he's spent time with the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks.

Former NHL defenceman Jason Demers, who played one game with the Oilers, was heavily against the idea of claiming Benning.

»No. No, I'm sorry. I'm sure he could be a good human being, and played in the NHL, but no. He's not an NHL defenceman anymore. Unfortunately he's not. I would not touch him.»
- Jason Demers, Oilers Nation

As it stands, Jason Demers has issued a warning to all NHL teams potentially interested in giving Matt Benning a look.

Although the Edmonton Oilers are on the hunt for a defenceman, I agree with Jason Demers. Stan Bowman should stay clear of Matt Benning and keep exploring the market until the right opportunity comes up.

Stay tuned to Oilers Central for the latest news and updates from around the hockey world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite players and teams.