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Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar are set to make their respective debuts with the Maple Leafs.

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It remains to be seen whether defenseman Matt Benning will actually wear the Leafs sweater during a game.

Hours after the Leafs assigned Hakanpaa and Dewar to the Toronto Marlies on LTIR conditioning loans, Benning skated in his first practice at the Ford Performance Center on Friday, wearing number 55.

Acquired from the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday in the trade that sent Timothy Liljegren to California, Benning is aware his stop in Toronto could be brief.

Given the Leafs’ roster situation — they’re maxed out at 23 players and Hakanpaa and Dewar will soon be ready to join the National Hockey League club — Benning is keeping an open mind.

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Provided there are no further injuries, Leafs general manager Brad Treliving will have to make another trade or place a few players on waivers in order to accommodate Hakanpaa, who is coming off a knee injury, and Dewar, who underwent off-season shoulder surgery. .

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“It’s your guys’ job (to speculate),” Benning said. “I’m not really interested in that. Whatever happens, happens.

“I have to make it difficult to make a decision to keep me here. If I have the opportunity to go in there and be successful, that’s all I can control.

Hakanpaa has been training regularly in the Leafs defensive corps for some time and Dewar has the same look among the depth forwards.

Each can stay with the Marlies for up to six days and three games.

The Marlies’ next game is Saturday in Cleveland against the Monsters, but their next game isn’t until next Saturday in Charlotte against the Checkers.

The waiver possibilities are defenders Philippe Myers, who played one game this season, as well as Benning. Forward Pontus Holmberg could also be a waiver candidate, and the same goes for Dewar. The Leafs have little interest in putting Nick Robertson on waivers, as he would surely claim.

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The only Leafs player who doesn’t need a waiver to be sent to the Marlies is winger Matthew Knies. You have a better chance of becoming the next Leafs president than Knies of being demoted.

Treliving could also make a trade that doesn’t involve Benning.

Winger Calle Jarnkrok (lower body) and defenseman Dakota Mermis (jaw) remain on long-term injured reserve.

If Benning turns out to stay with the Leafs, the team will have a useful veteran who has played in 464 NHL games, recording 102 points (17 goals and 85 assists) and 239 penalty minutes. The 30-year-old Edmonton native has played seven games for the Sharks this season.

Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins 175th overall in 2012, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Benning played three seasons at Northeastern University and made his NHL debut with the team Edmonton Oilers in 2016-17.

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“A lot of these guys are hard to find, right-handed D,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “He looked good today, he moved well in the first practice. He plays a tough game, blocks a lot of shots. That’s the type of player he is.

Benning is a familiar face to some in the Leafs locker room, having played with Steven Lorentz in San Jose, Anthony Stolarz in Edmonton and Myers in Nashville. Benning will get to know his new Leafs teammates better this weekend when the club travels to St. Louis and Minnesota for back-to-back games against the Blues on Saturday and the Wild on Sunday.

Because the Leafs already have Simon Benoit, Ryan Reaves was among those wondering after practice what Benning’s nickname would be. While Benoit claimed Benny, Benzo was apparently chosen for Benning.

“I’m just along for the ride,” Benning said. “I think (being ready for anything) is part of the job. I’ve gone through a decent amount of it.

“Whatever way they want to use me, I’m here now, happy to be here, and whatever way I can help, I will.”

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