Predators Sign Matt Benning to Two-Year, $2 Million Contract

Nashville, Tenn. (October 9, 2020) - Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/GM David Poile announced Friday that the team has signed defenseman Matt Benning to a two-year, $2 million contract.
"At 26 years old, Matt's best years are still ahead of him and we look forward to those coming in Nashville," Poile said. "He has the ability to play against the opposition's top lines, in addition to getting involved in the offense. His physicality and skating ability round out our defensive corps nicely."
Benning, 26 (5/25/94), tallied eight points (1g-7a) and recorded a +8 rating in 43 games with the Edmonton Oilers in 2019-20. The right-shot blueliner has tallied at least 15 points in three of his four NHL seasons, including a career-high 21 (6g-15a) during the 2017-18 campaign, and owns a +32 rating in 248 career NHL games, all of which have come with the Oilers. In addition to his 61 career NHL points (15g-46a), he has posted four assists in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances and picked up a helper in Edmonton's four Qualifying Round games vs. Chicago in 2020.

Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Benning ended his NCAA career at Northeastern University by winning the Hockey East title in 2015-16 and departed the Huskies with 56 points (9g-47a) in 110 games. Before enrolling at Northeastern, he won junior hockey titles with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2012-13 and the AJHL's Spruce Grove Saints in 2010-11. Hockey runs deep in Benning's family - his grandfather, Elmer, was a scout for the Montreal Canadiens for nearly 50 years; his father, Brian, played in 568 career NHL games from 1985-95; and his uncle, Jim, is the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.