Maple Leafs sign Ben Danford to 3-year, entry-level contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenceman Ben Danford to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday, the team announced in a release.

Danford was selected 31st overall by the Maple Leafs at the 2024 NHL Draft, playing for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. The 18-year-old was lauded for his defensive abilities, excelling in rush defence and transition scenarios. Danford recorded one goal and 33 points in 64 regular season games, then added four goals and 10 points in 21 postseason contests for Oshawa.

Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis provided a comprehensive scouting report of Danford’s game prior to the 2024 NHL Draft:

“For a defenceman with Danford’s offensive abilities, it’s crazy he had just one goal during the regular season with Oshawa. But he’s a guy his teammates like to rely on because he’s rarely caught making a mistake distributing the puck. I’ve seen Danford play both sides on the blueline this year but I think he’s got something going on the left side – it fits his shot better.”

Danford appeared to ace the first impression test at Maple Leafs development camp earlier this summer, while former Maple Leafs director of amateur scouting Wes Clark raved about his defensive intelligence. Clark has since joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as their vice president of player personnel.

“Elite intangibles,” Clark said of Danford to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. “Excellent defensive instincts. Just checks all the boxes that we were looking for. The upside, I think, is sky high…. Ben was pretty much the target all the way along. So, lucky we got him.”

Danford was a first-round pick in the Ontario Hockey League just two seasons ago and has been one of the best players in his age group since scouts have reviewed the cohort, selected 14th overall by Oshawa from the Quinte Red Devils. He was Quinte’s captain and is considered to be a natural leader. Danford immediately projects to be one of Toronto’s best prospects and could be the most promising defenceman the team has developed in-house since Morgan Rielly.

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