Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Matt Benning was born May 25, 1994 in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. He is a defenseman in the National Hockey League.

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. As Benning remained an un-signed 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 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. 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, 2020, Benning signed a two-year contract with the Nashville Predators worth $1 million per season. At the conclusion of his contract with the Predators, Benning left as a free agent and was signed to a four-year, $5 million contract with the San Jose Sharks on July 13, 2022.