Could Henry Thrun Be the Maple Leafs’ Next Simon Benoit?

When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Simon Benoit in 2023, expectations were minimal. He was coming off a rough year with the Anaheim Ducks, logging heavy minutes on a struggling team and getting exposed in the process. But context mattered. The Ducks were a mess that season, and Benoit wasn’t the only player who looked overwhelmed.

Fast forward a year, and Benoit became one of the Maple Leafs’ best stories — a reliable depth defender who worked hard, played physically, and won the coaching staff’s trust. He wasn’t a star, but he became a valuable piece.

That journey is what makes the recent trade for Henry Thrun so intriguing.

A Familiar Situation: Young Blue-Liners Struggle on Bad Teams

Thrun arrives in Toronto under similar circumstances. He’s coming from the San Jose Sharks in a trade for Ryan Reaves. The Sharks are another team stuck in a rebuild with glaring weaknesses all over the ice. Like Benoit before him, Thrun showed some promise despite being surrounded by chaos. He played real NHL minutes, threw his weight around, and didn’t shy away from contact.

A recent Sports Illustrated piece even called Thrun a “perfect fit” for the Maple Leafs, noting that his style could mesh well with what Craig Berube wants from his bottom pairing.

The trade itself was framed as a salary dump, with Reaves headed to San Jose. However, the real value might lie in what Toronto gained. Reaves had reached the end of the road in Toronto — a willing warrior, yes, but one who no longer fit into the on-ice plan. In return, the Maple Leafs added a 24-year-old defenseman who still has NHL upside and a willingness to compete.