NHL player Simon Benoit's Superman punch draws critique from Georges St-Pierre

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit broke the internet Tuesday night when he attempted a Superman punch during a center-ice fight.

With his team up 3-0 early in the second period, Benoit obliged a challenge from Utah Hockey Club defenseman Michael Kesselring. The two dropped the gloves and squared off before Benoit leaped high up off the ice with a mid-air swing toward Kesselring.

The move generated a critique from someone who knows the move better than anyone as UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre loved the attempt but was not impressed with Benoit’s performance.

“Superman Punch in the NHL last night,” Pierre wrote on X on Tuesday. “He missed the target because he telegraphed too much but the picture is awesome.”

Despite the whiff, Benoit and Kesselring still threw down in a quick, spirited scrap. Benoit definitely connected with something – potentially helmet – as he was seen resetting his thumb in the penalty box thereafter.

The superman punch during Monday’s game at Delta Center in Salt Lake City was not the first time the strike had been attempted in an NHL game.

Former Anaheim Ducks defenseman Kevin Bieksa landed the most well-known (and successful) superman punch in the sport’s history to date in an October 2017 game. The blow dropped Philadelphia Flyers’ defenseman Radko Gudas, a tough customer himself.

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