# Matt Benning

Matthew Benning (born May 25, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks. He was selected 175th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the Boston Bruins.

## Playing career

Benning played two seasons of Junior A hockey for the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), one season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints 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 Boston Bruins, he opted to sign a two-year, entry-level contract with his hometown club, the Edmonton Oilers, 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 American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. After two games with the Condors, Benning was recalled and made his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 1, 2016. He scored his first NHL goal against Cory Schneider of the New Jersey Devils on January 7, 2017. On February 3, in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Benning suffered a concussion after he was hit by Hurricanes’ forward Viktor Stålberg, 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 Nashville Predators.

#### 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 San Jose Sharks 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 Toronto Maple Leafs, in exchange for Timothy Liljegren.

## Personal life

Benning was born in St. Albert, Alberta in 1994. He is the son of former NHL defenceman Brian Benning, 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, played 10 seasons as an NHL defenceman and is the former general manager of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.
Benning is the older brother of Florida Panthers defenceman Michael Benning.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2010–11 | Spruce Grove Saints | AJHL | 43 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 65 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 |
| 2011–12 | Spruce Grove Saints | AJHL | 44 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 87 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 2012–13 | Dubuque Fighting Saints | USHL | 57 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 73 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 2013–14 | Northeastern University | HE | 33 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | Northeastern University | HE | 36 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | Northeastern University | HE | 41 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 62 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 29 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| 2017–18 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 73 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018–19 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 70 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 43 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2019–20 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 53 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2021–22 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 65 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 77 | 1 | 23 | 24 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024–25 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 464 | 17 | 85 | 102 | 239 | 24 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 24 |