Since Simon Benoit did a podcast with former teammate Luke Gazdic, the Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman has been continually asked about his love for milk.
"I just always love milk, I don't know," Benoit laughed as he finished taking part in the team's optional skate ahead of their game against the Buffalo Sabres. "It's comforting."
It's gotten to the point where in addition to being called 'Benny', he's also 'The Milkman.
The Maple Leafs' digital team also had some fun with the defenseman recently. On an episode of the club's The Blue Room YouTube show, Benoit tried five different kinds of milk and was asked to range them from whole to skim.
The milk aficionado understood the assignment and nailed it.
Signed to a one-year, $775,000 deal late in the summer, Benoit has become and everyday player on the Maple Leafs after initially getting off to a bad start in training camp. He had back spasms which forced him to miss the beginning of the fall skates. When he got into the lineup, he took three minor penalties in his first pre-season game and was on the outside looking in, beginning his season with the Toronto Marlies.
But with injuries across the blue line, Benoit has won the trust of head coach Sheldon Keefe with his strong defensive play and has established chemistry with teammate Jake McCabe.
A restricted free agent at the end of the season, the 25-year-old native of Laval has a goal and three assists in 47 games while averaging 16:53 of ice time.
The Leafs' jersey features the Ontario Dairy Farmers. The defenseman jokes that he's still waiting for his own personal sponsorship.
More must-reads: