Ben Danford anticipates a big summer of training as he eyes spot on Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 first-round draft pick, Ben Danford, has his sights set on making the NHL next season as his junior hockey career ends following the Hamilton Bulldogs Game 7 loss in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Danford finished up his fourth season at the OHL level, appearing in 45 games with both the Oshawa Generals and the Bulldogs, following a mid-season trade. The 20-year-old recorded three goals and 17 assists over his 45 games, while also posting a plus-minus rating of minus-two. Along the Bulldogs’ playoff run, Danford chipped in one goal and two assists in 13 games. 

In December, Danford was named to Canada’s World Junior roster. The right-shot defenceman skated in all seven games with Canada, picking up one assist, and helping them claim a bronze medal in Minnesota. During an interview with TSN’s Mark Masters, Danford reflected on his final junior hockey season.

“Overall, I was happy with my year. I thought I got better defensively, which is something that I take a lot of pride in. When it comes to offence, maybe my numbers weren’t there, but at times I feel like I could get some more confidence,” Danford said. “I need to have a big summer, going into pro next year, and just work on all aspects of my game.”

This season, the Maple Leafs’ defensive corps was often criticized for their inability to get up the ice, as many of the current players on the back end are 30 or older. To go along with a lack of foot speed, the Maple Leafs defence often had a hard time getting the puck up to their forwards, an element that Danford feels is a strength to his game. 

“When I look at defence, obviously, it’s defending and shutting down other teams’ top line, but when it comes to my style of play, I take a lot of pride in breaking out pucks with that first pass,” Danford said. “I thought I was pretty consistent throughout the year at being able to absorb contact, be able to scan and make plays with clean exits.” 

The step up from junior to professional is one of the biggest jumps a young player can make. At 20 years old, Danford will enter the Maple Leafs’ training camp in September as one of the youngest players in the group. During the interview, Masters asked Danford if he felt he was ready for the NHL. 

“That’s going to come with a big summer. I feel like with my ability to skate, my ability to break out pucks, and my brain when it comes to good defensive play, I feel like I have that going for me,” Danford said. “This summer’s going to be important for my development. Obviously, you’re going up against men when you go pro, and the NHL is just another level, so I got to put on weight, put on muscle, and get faster this summer.”

One Maple Leaf who knows this jump better than anyone is forward Easton Cowan. Cowan, a 2023 first-round draft pick, made the leap from the London Knights of the OHL this season, appearing in 66 games in his first year in the NHL. Cowan recorded 11 goals and 18 assists, growing as the year went on. Cowan and Danford have gotten to know each other well over the past few years, and Danford is excited for the opportunity to hopefully be teammates one day. 

“Me and Cow [Cowan] still talk every day. He’s a great guy to listen to and ask questions about,” Danford said. “We always joke around about how it would be cool if me and him play in the NHL together at a young age.”