My current favorite player on the Leafs is Simon Benoit. Wearing jersey No. 2.
Of course I also love Matthews and Nylander…….but Benoit epitomizes what I believe true Leaf fans love: Heart.
He plays his position, throws hits, a few fists, and plays above his weight class by always giving his best.
So many Leafs over the past 50 years have worn the No. 2 that also epitomize this spirit.
When I first started watching the Leafs…. after Borje Salming… it was Ian Turnbull on defense that was No. 2 and played with this spirit.
During the 1993 run, my favorite Leaf was No. 2 Sylvain Lefebvre. Most young fans have heard of Gilmour and Clark but maybe not Lefebvre…. but it was guys like him that pushed Leafs into a deep run that season by playing his position and using his body. He had the best plus/minus in the league…. when he was on the ice….the opposing team couldnt score. Check this video out:
Last playoff season the guy who represented this ethos was No. 2 Luke Schenn. And this year its Benoit.
What other No. 2s have embodied this spirit for the Leafs?
by BobbyAxelrod1
13 Comments
– Wade Belak
– Luke Richardson
I’ll always upvote Simon Benoit appreciation threads, absolutely love how he’s playing and I hope he continues to develop and stays with the Leafs <3
You should check out Brad Marsh (former Leaf/Flyer dman), he’d keep the puck with his tongue if he had too. Though he did not wear 2, Schenn, Carl Brewer, and Garth Butcher did, and they played hard.
Was Ron Hainsey No. 2? He had some solid poise back there, always loved his style.
I’m glad I’m not the only person who gets Sylvain Lefebvre vibes from Benoit. Now we just need Benoit to have a moment that leads to an iconic Joe Bowen call so we can name a blog after it 20 years from now like Lefebvre with Down Goes Brown.
Wade Belak. RIP.
Ikr, Benoit is quickly becoming my favorite leaf and because he can play as the 5th D pretty well despite being a 6th D, I think he’s gonna stick around for a while. Also he’s a very Treliving type of guy and is still an RFA after this season.
Sylvain Lefebvre was Benoit’s assistant coach with the AHL San Diego Gulls and took specific interest in him. They could also speak French with one another. Simon credits Lefebvre with helping him make the jump to the NHL.
Sylvain Lefebvre was a great player on those teams. I was sad when he was traded (although tough to be sad since we got Sundin.) He was what we do not have now – a skilled and tough defensive defenseman.
Love the guy, hope he stays a long time.
But why would he? So he can be the only one to drop the gloves every week because no one else will? For the money that is all tied up? He can get more somewhere else.
Players come in here hot all the time. He will either leave and continue to be that player or get worn down by our baby shit soft team and lose his motivation to play that style.
Sorry facts are hard to hear. Downvote away.
The disrespect to Matt Hunwick
He’s been fantastic compared to expectations, but the reality is a competitive NHL team probably shouldn’t have him playing consistent games.
Sylvain Lefebvre was the quintessential shut down D, he was rock steady for those early 90 Leafs teams. What a difference a player like that would make in this iteration of the Leafs.