Matthew Benning (born May 25, 1994) is a Canadian professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

defenceman Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from Goal (ice hockey), scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the l ...

for the

Toronto Marlies The Toronto Marlies are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a member of the North Division of the Eastern Conference. The Marlies are owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, a c ...

of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...

(AHL) while under contract to the

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL). He previously played for the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (colloquially referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Divisio ...

, and

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...

. He was selected 175th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

Playing career

Benning played two seasons of

Junior A Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from t ...

hockey for the

Spruce Grove Saints The Spruce Grove Saints are a Junior ice hockey team in the BCHL. They play in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada, with home games at the Thompson Family Arena. The team was originally a member of the AJHL and joined the BCHL in 2024. History Prior t ...

of the

Alberta Junior Hockey League The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) is an Alberta-based Junior A ice hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. The 2023–24 season began with 16 teams, however 5 ...

(AJHL), one season with the

Dubuque Fighting Saints The Dubuque Fighting Saints are a Tier I junior ice hockey team playing in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and are based in the city of Dubuque, Iowa, on the banks of the Mississippi River at the intersection of Iowa, Illinois, and Wis ...

junior team, then played for the Northeastern University Huskies from 2013 to 2016.

Professional (2016–present)

Edmonton Oilers (2016–2020)

As Benning remained an unsigned draft pick of the

, he opted to sign a two-year, entry-level contract with his hometown club, the

, on August 27, 2016. After attending his first Oilers training camp, he unexpectedly made the Oilers opening night roster for the 2016–17 season. After sitting as a healthy scratch, he was reassigned to make his professional debut with

(AHL) affiliate, the

Bakersfield Condors The Bakersfield Condors are a professional ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers. The Condors play their home games at Dignity Healt ...

. After two games with the Condors, Benning was recalled and made his NHL debut against the

on November 1, 2016. He scored his first NHL goal against

Cory Schneider Cory Franklin Schneider (born March 18, 1986) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for the Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). Schneider was selected in ...

of the

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

on January 7, 2017. On February 3, in a game against the

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...

, Benning suffered a

concussion A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is a head injury that temporarily affects brain functioning. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, difficulty with thinking and concentration, sleep disturbances, a brief ...

after he was hit by Hurricanes’ forward

Viktor Stålberg Viktor Stålberg (born 17 January 1986) is a Swedish people, Swedish former professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), winger. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Car ...

, resulting in him missing the next 20 games.

Nashville Predators (2020–2022)

As an impending restricted free agent and due to salary cap considerations, Benning was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Oilers on October 7, 2020, and was released to free agency. On October 9, Benning signed a two-year contract with the

San Jose Sharks (2022–2024)

At the conclusion of his contract with the Predators, Benning left as a free agent and was signed to a four-year contract with the

on July 13, 2022. On December 3, 2023, Benning suffered a season-ending injury, which required a hip surgery. Before the injury he recorded two assists in 14 games during that season. After seven games in the 2024–25 season, on October 30, 2024, the Sharks traded Benning and two draft picks to the

, in exchange for

Timothy Liljegren Timothy Winston Liljegren (born 30 April 1999) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs drafted him in the first ...

. Benning did not play for the Maple Leafs since the trade, and after clearing waivers, was assigned to AHL affiliate, the

Personal life

Benning was born in

St. Albert, Alberta St. Albert is a List of cities in Canada, city in Alberta, Canada, next to the Sturgeon River (Alberta), Sturgeon River, northwest of the Edmonton, City of Edmonton, the provincial capital. It was originally settled as a Métis community, and is ...

in 1994. He is the son of former NHL defenceman

Brian Benning Brian Anthony Benning (born June 10, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, and F ...

, who was born in Edmonton and played for the same AJHL Saints franchise (then located in St. Albert) 27 years before his son, and also featured with the Oilers through his 10-year career. His uncle,

Jim Benning James Elmer Benning (born April 29, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey executive and former player. He formerly served as the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted in the first roun ...

, played 10 seasons as an NHL defenceman and is the former general manager of the NHL's

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

. Benning is the older brother of

Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...

defenceman

Michael Benning Michael Benning (born January 5, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was named as the ...

Career statistics

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Benning, Matt 1994 births Living people Bakersfield Condors players Boston Bruins draft picks Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Canadian ice hockey defencemen Dubuque Fighting Saints players Edmonton Oilers players Ice hockey people from St. Albert, Alberta Nashville Predators players Northeastern Huskies men's ice hockey players San Jose Sharks players Spruce Grove Saints players Toronto Marlies players 21st-century Canadian sportsmen

Playing career

Professional (2016–present)

Edmonton Oilers (2016–2020)

Nashville Predators (2020–2022)

San Jose Sharks (2022–2024)

Personal life

Career statistics

See also

References

External links