After 12 NHL seasons and 607 games played Jordie Benn has announced his retirement from professional hockey on Tuesday. Benn's career started with an unconventional route after he entered the NHL as an undrafted free agent with Dallas in 2011-12. The 37-year-old ends his NHL career with 26 goals, 137 points, 244 PIMs and a +19 plus/minus in 607 games played with six separate organizations (DAL, MTL, VAN, WPG, MIN, TOR).

Benn has missed the Maple Leafs' previous 12 games due to an upper-body injury but will return to the lineup Thursday vs. the Flyers. The timing could not be better for his return as he will be replacing the injured Rasmus Sandin (neck) and hoping to improve on his goal and assist he picked up over his brief first six-game stint with Toronto prior to the injury.

Benn suffered an upper-body injury in New Jersey on Wednesday and will miss at least one week after landing on IR on Thursday. Victor Mete is expected to draw into the Maple Leafs' lineup on Friday to replace Benn.

Benn has yet to make an appearance for the Maple Leafs after being acquired in the offseason due to a groin injury which has kept him on long-term injured reserve up until Tuesday. He will be a welcome addition to the Maple Leafs defence, bringing 595 career NHL games and 135 points directly into the lineup.

Benn will be unavailable for the first 10 games or 24 days of the season and provides the Maple Leafs with some salary cap relief after being moved to LTIR. Once healthy, Benn will have to battle for playing time, as the Maple Leafs' blueline will run eight deep this season.

Benn was injured in Monday's preseason game vs. the Canadiens and will miss at least three weeks. Expect Benn to be unavailable for at least the first six games of the regular season and serve as the Maple Leafs' No.7 defenseman upon his return.

After one year in Minnesota, Benn signs with the Maple Leafs where he'll likely be deep on the depth chart. Benn filled a similar role with the Wild, only appearing in 39 games, scoring one goal with seven assists.

Benn played in three straight games but was a minus-1 in all three. On Sunday, he'll be replaced by Calen Addison, who was summoned from the AHL on Saturday.

Benn will come out of the lineup for the first time since December 16th because Matt Dumba is returning from a two-game absence with an upper-body injury. Benn has four points (1G / 3A) in 25 games this season.

Benn has been solid but is the victim of a numbers game with Jonas Brodin set to return to the lineup on Tuesday. Benn will likely be in a fight with Jon Merrill for regular playing time on the Wild blueline.

Benn was a minus-2 in 11:30 TOI in his Jets debut on Thursday. He stayed on for extra work after the morning skate, so look for Logan Stanley to replace him in the lineup on Saturday.

Benn was acquired from the Canucks at the trade deadline and will replace Logan Stanley on the Jets' third pairing on Thursday. Benn has scored one goal with eight assists, 39 shots, 14 hits and 46 blocked shots in 31 games this season.