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Boston Bruins Let Benning go Bye-Bye

By Paul Altmeyer

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney makes the first of three consecutive draft picks in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney makes the first of three consecutive draft picks in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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While this situation did not carry the suspense of the Jimmy Vesey watch, the Boston Bruins saw former defense prospect Matt Benning, who had declared free agency, sign a two-year, entry-level deal with the Edmonton Oilers yesterday.

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With Benning, his situation was not quite like Vesey’s. While Vesey played four years in college, at Harvard, Benning became a free-agent after playing only three years at Northeastern University. Prior to going to Northeastern, Benning played one year in the United States Hockey League with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, and that year, in addition to the three in college, let him exercise his right to free agency.

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With his departure the Bruins lose a prospect who almost certainly would have been struggling for ice time with the Providence Bruins, let alone in Boston. While he is a coveted right-handed shot, he is not a lock to make it in the National Hockey League. One situation that may have caused Benning to go the free agent route is the amount of defensive prospects the Bruins have amassed in the past year, which includes 2015 picks Jakub Zboril, Brandon Carlo and Jeremy Lauzon, in addition to with Colin Miller, Rob O’Gara and Matt Grzelcyk. That, plus the summer long speculation that they are still interested in dealing for St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. Finding ice time in the Bruins organization would have been difficult.

Signing with Edmonton amounts to a homecoming for Benning. He grew up in St. Albert, Alberta, which is northwest of Edmonton. The 22-year-old was a regular attendee at Oilers games growing up, and his father, Brian, even played for the team in 1992-93. Returning home will also give Benning a chance to spend time with his grandfather, Elmer Benning, who recently turned 80 and is still going strong as an amateur scout for the Montreal Canadiens.

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One team Benning has closes ties with is the Vancouver Canucks, for his uncle,  Jim,  is the General Manager there. The younger Benning told the Edmonton Journal “I definitely wasn’t going to Vancouver even if they’d offered (contract). If I’m going to make it I want to do it on my own.” Ironically, though, Jim Benning was in the Bruins front office when they drafted Matt. The General Manager of the Bruins at that time was Peter Chiarelli, who is now the GM in Edmonton, and another reason Matt Benning opted to sign with the Oilers.

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