3 Reasons Benoit-Olivier Groulx Will Be in the Maple Leafs Lineup Next Season
Sometimes the most interesting moments in a hockey game don’t come from the big stars. They come from the players who have been grinding for years, waiting for a chance. That’s what made Benoit-Olivier Groulx’s goal Thursday night feel a little different.
Late in the game, with the Toronto Maple Leafs protecting a 4–3 lead, Brandon Carlo flipped a pass ahead, and Groulx jumped on it. He skated into the left circle and snapped a low glove-side shot past Lukas Dostal. The puck went in, the bench erupted, and suddenly Toronto had a 5–3 lead. It turned out to be the game-winner.
Even better for Groulx, it came against the Anaheim Ducks. This was the organization that originally drafted him in the second round back in 2018. He never really stuck there, posting just five points in 65 NHL games before moving on. So that moment probably felt pretty satisfying.
But the goal might mean more than just a fun highlight. It might be a reminder that Groulx deserves a real look with the Maple Leafs next season.
Three Reasons Why He Could Be a Surprise Next Season.
Here are three reasons why the youngster could become part of the Maple Leafs roster next season.
Reason No. 1: Groulx Is Producing in the AHL.
Groulx hasn’t just been treading water in the minors. This season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, he’s been legitimately productive, piling up 50 points in 54 games. That kind of production doesn’t always translate directly to the NHL, but it does show he has offensive instincts. For a player projected as a bottom-six forward, having a little scoring touch is a big bonus.
Thursday’s goal was a reminder that the skill is still there.
Reason No. 2: Groulx Brings Energy and Depth.
Every team needs players who can step into the lineup and simply keep things moving. Groulx has shown he can play responsible minutes, forecheck hard, and contribute on special teams. His shorthanded goal was a perfect example. He read the play, jumped into space, and finished the opportunity. Those are the kinds of small plays coaches tend to notice.
Reason No. 3: The Leafs Can’t Let Another One Slip Away.
Maple Leafs fans saw a similar situation last season with Alex Steeves and Fraser Minten. Minten was traded and has turned out to be a really good player with the Boston Bruins. Toronto moved on from Steeves before they even gave him a chance to show anything at the NHL level. Now he’s playing regularly in Boston, and he’s producing.
Depth players sometimes take longer to develop. If you move on too quickly, you risk watching them succeed somewhere else. Groulx may never be a top-line player, but he’s shown enough flashes to suggest he could become a useful piece of the puzzle.
And sometimes that’s exactly the kind of player a good team needs most. Groulx just might be that kind of player. Groulx may never be a top-line player, but hockey teams aren’t built only on stars. Sometimes, the players who grind the longest end up becoming the ones you’re happiest you kept around.