Matthew Benning Bio
Matthew Benning is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League while under contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. Benning has NHL experience with the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks and was selected 175th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Benning was born on May 25, 1994, in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in a hockey family: his father, Brian Benning, played as an NHL defenceman, and his uncle, Jim Benning, also played in the National Hockey League and later served in management. His younger brother, Michael Benning, has played as a defenceman for the Florida Panthers organization, making hockey a central part of the family identity.
Benning developed his game in Alberta and advanced through the Canadian junior ranks before moving into U.S. college hockey. He attended Northeastern University, where he played collegiate hockey and continued to refine his skills as a right-shot defenceman while completing his NCAA eligibility prior to turning professional.
Path to Hockey
Benning progressed through Junior A and junior teams before enrolling at Northeastern University. He spent two seasons with the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League and one season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, experiences that prepared him for NCAA competition. Those stops provided sustained ice time and development opportunities that led to his three seasons with Northeastern from 2013 to 2016.
Although selected by the Boston Bruins at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Benning finished his college career before signing his first NHL contract. His path combined Canadian junior hockey and U.S. college play, a route that balanced development on-ice with an extended period of competitive growth in the NCAA.
Matthew Benning Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
Benning played for the Northeastern University Huskies from 2013 to 2016, completing his collegiate career before turning professional. Prior to Northeastern, Benning logged time with the Spruce Grove Saints in the AJHL and the Dubuque Fighting Saints, where he established himself as a reliable defense prospect and right-shot option on the blue line.
Following his final collegiate season, Benning entered the professional ranks in 2016, signing his first NHL contract and preparing to compete for a roster spot at the highest level. Those formative seasons provided the foundation for his transition to the American Hockey League and eventual NHL opportunities.
Edmonton Oilers Breakthrough (2016–2020)
After remaining unsigned by the Boston Bruins, Benning signed a two-year entry-level contract with his hometown club, the Edmonton Oilers, on August 27, 2016. He attended the Oilers’ training camp and made the club’s opening night roster for the 2016–17 season, an early sign that the organization saw NHL potential in the young defenceman.
Benning made his professional debut after a reassignment to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League, and shortly thereafter was recalled and made his NHL debut on November 1, 2016, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored his first NHL goal on January 7, 2017, against Cory Schneider of the New Jersey Devils. During his tenure with Edmonton, Benning saw alternating assignments between the NHL and AHL as he established himself at the professional level.
Nashville Predators Tenure (2020–2022)
Benning reached unrestricted free agency after the Oilers did not tender a qualifying offer ahead of the 2020–21 season. On October 9, 2020, he signed a two-year contract with the Nashville Predators. With Nashville, he continued to provide depth on the defensive corps and contribute in a supporting role on the roster across his contract term.
His time in Nashville added further NHL experience and minutes against top-level competition, allowing him to continue developing his game while providing organizational depth on the right side of the defense. That experience helped prepare Benning for his next multi-year contract and increased responsibilities in the NHL.
San Jose Sharks Era (2022–2024)
At the conclusion of his contract with the Predators, Benning signed a four-year contract with the San Jose Sharks on July 13, 2022. The signing represented a longer-term commitment by the Sharks to add Benning’s right-shot defensive depth to their roster and to integrate him into their defensive group across multiple seasons.
Benning’s time with San Jose was interrupted by injury. On December 3, 2023, he suffered a season-ending hip injury that required surgery. Before the injury, he registered two assists in 14 games that season. The operation and recovery curtailed his availability for the Sharks during that campaign.
Toronto Marlies Era (2024–Present)
On October 30, 2024, the San Jose Sharks traded Benning and two draft picks to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Timothy Liljegren. Benning did not appear in a game for the Maple Leafs following the trade; after clearing waivers he was assigned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.
Benning remains under contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs while playing for the Toronto Marlies. His assignment to the AHL affiliate placed him in a position to return to game action following recovery from the hip surgery he underwent in December 2023.
Driving Style and Strengths
Benning is a right-shot defenceman who has been utilized as a depth option at the NHL level and as a steady presence in the AHL when assigned. His professional history includes alternating between the NHL and AHL, and his usage has reflected roles that emphasize responsible defensive play and situational deployment by his coaches and organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Benning’s career include being selected 175th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, making his NHL debut on November 1, 2016, scoring his first NHL goal on January 7, 2017, and signing multi-year contracts that extended his NHL tenure. A significant medical milestone was the hip surgery on December 3, 2023, which ended his 2023–24 season and required a recovery period ahead of his assignment to the Toronto Marlies.
Matthew Benning Career Wins
Benning’s professional record includes scoring milestones and regular-season contributions across NHL and AHL assignments. While not a high-scoring defenseman, his first NHL goal and sustained presence on NHL rosters across multiple seasons mark notable personal achievements in his career.
NHL Highlights
Benning scored his first NHL goal on January 7, 2017, against the New Jersey Devils. He made his NHL debut on November 1, 2016, for the Edmonton Oilers and accumulated seasons of NHL service with Edmonton, Nashville, and San Jose before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. These moments represent his primary milestones at the top professional level.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the developmental level, Benning saw professional action with the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL early in his career and later with the Toronto Marlies following his 2024 assignment. His junior and collegiate successes—two seasons in the AJHL, a season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, and three seasons at Northeastern University—provided the platform for his professional opportunities and continue to be part of his career narrative.
Matthew Benning Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Benning comes from a well-known hockey family. His father, Brian Benning, played as an NHL defenceman across a decade-long career. His uncle, Jim Benning, also played professionally and later served in management. His brother, Michael Benning, has pursued a professional hockey career as a defenceman within the Florida Panthers organization. That familial lineage situates Matthew Benning within a multi-generational hockey background.
Personal Life
Public records list Benning’s birthplace as St. Albert, Alberta, and his collegiate affiliation with Northeastern University. There are no widely reported public details regarding a spouse or children in the provided sources. Benning’s personal profile is primarily defined in the public record by his hockey career and family connections to the sport.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Benning is part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and assigned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. His status follows a season-ending hip surgery in December 2023 and a trade on October 30, 2024, that sent him to Toronto, after which he cleared waivers and reported to the AHL affiliate.
For the 2024–25 season and into 2025, Benning’s availability and role will be influenced by his recovery timeline from hip surgery and by the depth needs of the Maple Leafs organization. He remains positioned to provide defensive depth at the AHL level while under contract to an NHL club, offering the organization a right-shot defensive option as roster needs evolve.