5 Matt Benning D

Benning is on the ice Tuesday after missing Monday's practice with an undisclosed issue, Adam Vingan of The Athletic reports.

Benning drew into 43 games with the Oilers last season, picking up eight points while averaging just 13:14 of ice time per contest. The 26-year-old will be in and out of the lineup as a bottom-pairing option for the Predators this year, so he won't be a viable fantasy option.

Coach John Hynes deemed Benning (undisclosed) unfit to practice on the first day of training camp Monday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

The offseason addition was one of five skaters listed as unfit to practice, but the reason for Benning's absence wasn't expanded upon. He could be dealing with an injury or may simply be finishing up the required quarantine protocols if he arrived to Nashville a little late. Either way, Benning has 10 days to overcome whatever is prohibiting him from practicing before the season starts.

Benning was signed to a two-year, $2 million contract by the Predators on Friday, Pierre LeBrun of TSNreports.

Benning was mostly a regular on the Oilers' back end in his first four seasons in the league, posting 61 points in 248 games. He's more known for his physicality, as evidenced by his whopping 447 credited hits during that span, and he's apt at getting in front of pucks, too (239 blocked shots). That said, he won't do much for your fantasy squad offensively, but if you're in a deep league that counts defensive stats, he might be worth a look.

Benning won't be qualified by the Oilers and is set to become a UFA, Mark Spector of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Benning played a part-time role for the Oilers in 2019-20, producing eight points in 43 contests after battling head injuries early in the season. However, the Oilers have a deep pipeline on defense, and Benning's departure likely opens up a full-time role for Evan Bouchard or Philip Broberg in the upcoming campaign. Benning will try to latch on elsewhere as a bottom-pairing blueliner.

Benning had an assist and two PIM in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

Benning had the lone helper on Leon Draisaitl's second goal of the game, which came at 4:07 of the second period. Ice time was hard to come by for Benning, who skated just 9:16 on a pairing with playoff debutant Caleb Jones. Expect similar limited minutes for the 26-year-old Benning in Game 4 as the Oilers try to stave off elimination.

Benning served as a healthy scratch for Saturday's game against the Blue Jackets.

The 25-year-old defenseman exited the lineup as Oscar Klefbom (shoulder) returned to action. Benning managed six hits and no points in his last five contests. With the Oilers' defense at full health, Benning will likely spend a majority of the final 13 games of the year in the press box unless another blueliner gets hurt.

Benning dished an assist, four hits and two shots on net in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Wild.

Benning was credited with an assist on Leon Draisaitl's fluky second-period tally. That put an end to the defenseman's nine-game point drought. Benning has eight points, 71 hits and a plus-9 rating through 36 contests this year. He isn't worth a look in most fantasy formats.

Benning has no points in his last six games.

In that span, the defenseman has amassed 13 hits, five shots on goal and a minus-2 rating. Benning is used on the Oilers' third pairing. He's unlikely to make enough of a scoring impact to interest fantasy owners.

Benning had an assist, three blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in Friday's 4-2 win over the Blues.

Benning has a goal and an assist in two games since his return from a head injury. The 25-year-old figures to get a fair amount of playing time on the bottom pairing with Kris Russell (concussion) out. Benning has seven points, 50 hits and a plus-11 rating in 26 contests this season.

Benning scored a goal on three shots in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flames.

Benning has missed the better part of two months due to head injuries, but he had a heroic return Wednesday. The defenseman's tally at 11:49 of the third period tied the game at three and ultimately earned the Oilers a point in the standings. The 25-year-old has six points, 50 hits and a plus-8 rating through 25 contests, although it's unclear how often he'll be in the lineup, as coach Dave Tippett will want youngster Caleb Jones to get consistent playing time, as well.

Benning (head) was activated off injured reserve and will suit up versus Calgary on Wednesday.

Benning returns to action following a 20-game stint on IR. The blueliner is still looking for his first goal of the 2019-20 campaign, having notched just five helpers, 18 shots and 50 hits in 24 appearances. With Benning fully fit, Caleb Jones or Kris Russell will be relegated to the press box.

Benning was recalled from his conditioning assignment with AHL Bakersfield on Monday.

Benning will likely still need some time to get back up to speed with the Oilers before he is activated off injured reserve, especially considering he's played in the NHL just once since Nov. 19. In three games with the Condors, the 25-year-old notched one assist, two PIM and a plus-1 rating. Once given the all-clear, Benning figures to jump Caleb Jones or Kris Russell on the depth chart.

Benning (head) was sent down to AHL Bakersfield on a conditioning stint Sunday.

After missing the final five games of November with a concussion, Benning played just one game before suffering another head injury and hasn't suited up since. Edmonton doesn't play again until Jan. 29 but AHL Bakersfield has four games before then. If things go well, the 25-year-old blueliner could return after the All-Star break.

Coach Dave Tippett said Benning (head) won't return until after the All-Star break, Jack Michaels of the Oilers Radio Network reports.

Benning was a possibility to return during the Oilers' five-game road trip, which ends Saturday in Calgary. Instead, it appears the defenseman will miss at least two more weeks. The team is obviously being cautious with the 25-year-old, who has already suffered two head injuries this season. Based on the latest timeline, Benning's next chance to return would be Jan. 29 against the Flames. With the Oilers only playing three games between now and then, he'll have time to practice and get back up to speed.

Benning (head) has been skating and may return during the team's road trip, Jonathan Willis The Athletic reports.

Benning hasn't played since Dec. 1, but his return appears imminent. The Oilers have three games remaining on the road trip that ends Jan. 11 in Calgary, and the team wants to make sure it doesn't rush the 25-year-old blueliner back too soon since it's his second head injury of the season.

The Oilers placed Benning (head) on injured reserve Tuesday.

Edmonton has yet to release an expected timetable for Benning's recovery, but he'll miss the team's next three games at a minimum now that he's been placed on IR. The Oilers recalled Joel Persson from AHL Bakersfield in a corresponding move to fill in while Benning's on the shelf.

According to head coach Dave Tippett, Benning (head) has passed concussion tests, but will "probably be out a bit," Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reports.

Benning took a shot to the head during Sunday's 3-2 win over the Canucks and will miss some time as a result. The 25-year-old has been a solid bottom-pairing option for the Oilers this season, but he's only picked up five points while averaging 13:42 of ice time in 24 appearances, so there's no reason for fantasy owners to track his availability.

Coach Dave Tippett said Benning exited Sunday's win over the Canucks due to a shot that hit him in the head, Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reports.

Benning returned to the game after absorbing this shot and later took another shot to the foot, but the bench boss revealed it was the former that forced the 25-year-old blueliner out after 9:44 of ice time. Considering this was Benning's first game back from a concussion, the team will certainly monitor this situation closely.

Benning (undisclosed) left Sunday's game in Vancouver and will not return.

Benning returned from injured reserve for Sunday's contest but already sustained another injury. He was hit in the head with a shot but returned before leaving a second time after blocking a shot. The Oilers have a couple of days off before Wednesday's contest against the Senators and an update on his status will be available before then.

Edmonton activated Benning (concussion) from injured reserve Friday.

The Oilers now have eight healthy defensemen on their roster, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Benning sit as a scratch for Saturday's clash with the Canucks. The 25-year-old has notched five helpers while posting a plus-8 rating in 23 games this campaign.