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Ben Danford will be a major pillar of the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ future and the 19-year-old defenceman recently spoke to TSN’s Mark Masters about numerous topics as his season concluded.
Danford captained the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League this season, posting five goals and 25 points in 61 regular season games, before adding two goals and five points in 21 playoff games. Oshawa lost to London in the OHL final for the second consecutive season, and Danford offered his reflections on his team’s season, taking on a larger role this season as one of the premier defenders in the league.
“Individually and as a team, we had lows and highs throughout the whole year,” Danford said to Masters. “At the end of the day, we came short of our end goal, winning the championship. I’m really proud of the group and know what we accomplished, but it’s a tough pill to swallow at the end of the day for sure, going to back-to-back (OHL) finals and losing both times.”
Danford has developed a reputation as a punishing open-ice hitter who is most comfortable operating as a true stay-at-home defenceman. Toronto’s 2024 first-round pick will need to continue to improve, as he rises through the organization’s ranks, and while it’s unlikely he’ll make the NHL next fall, his continued development is essential for the future of the Maple Leafs.
“I worked on defensive play and that’s obviously, you know, the strongest attribute of my game. I thought I got better that way. I got more physical. I wanted to bring that component to my game. And offensively, you know, maybe my points weren’t what I was looking for, but I was really happy throughout the whole season with my 200-foot game.”
Easton Cowan and the London Knights are actively competing for the Memorial Cup, which could’ve been a sore topic for Danford, but he raved about the Leafs’ top-ranked forward, and is looking forward to building his friendship with him off the ice.
“He’s a phenomenal player,” Danford said of Cowan. “He’s a hard player to defend for sure with just the way he sees the ice and the confidence he has with the puck. He makes everyone around him better as well. He had a great series, and I wished him the best at the Memorial Cup.”
Cowan and Danford are the Maple Leafs’ most recent first-round picks and share some characteristics, perhaps offering a tell: both players were late risers in their draft years and ascended through draft boards, while most scouts and insiders thought the Leafs went off the board to select both players ahead of their consensus ranking. It’s clear that tenacity, passion and a 200-foot game are core components of what the Leafs are looking for, as Cowan and Danford headline the team’s prospect pool entering the summer.
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New York Rangers’ All-Time Starting Lineup
There have been plenty of New York Rangers legends since their founding in 1926 as one of the Original Six teams. In this exercise, I will create a “starting six” of one goalie, two defensemen, and three forwards that represent the best Rangers players in history at their respective positions. Goalie: Henrik Lundqvist This was essentially a battle between Henrik Lundqvist and Mike Richter, with Lundqvist ultimately winning out because of his durability and consistency. Drafted in the seventh round, he went on to become a lifelong Ranger, playing 887 games for them and amassing a career .918 save percentage (SV%) and 2.43 goals-against average (GAA). He was a Vezina Trophy winner in 2012, a five-time NHL All-Star, and was officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023. There were several seasons in the middle of his career where he almost single-handedly dragged an otherwise mediocre team into the playoffs. Richter, though he was a bit more inconsistent over the course of his career than Lundqvist and did not put up quite the sterling numbers, is likewise a Rangers legend. He was able to capture a Stanley Cup in 1994, a feat that Lundqvist was unable to accomplish. Defensemen: Brian Leetch and Harry Howell Brian Leetch is the obvious first choice. He is second in all-time points scored by a defenseman for the Rangers and was one of the most prolific offensive defensemen in NHL history. An elite skater with great offensive skill and vision, Leetch was an 11-time All-Star, two-time Norris Trophy winner, and a Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 1994 with a spectacular playoff performance to lead the Rangers to the Stanley Cup. Harry Howell does not possess the point totals of other Rangers defense legends, players like Brad Park or Ron Greschner. His contributions to the Rangers came via defensive prowess, elite puck-moving ability, and durability. Howell leads all past and present Rangers with 1,060 games played in a Blueshirt uniform. He won the Norris Trophy in 1967 before Bobby Orr dominated the award for the next decade. Howell was a mainstay on the Rangers blue line for the 50s and 60s, and his number was retired in 2009. Forwards: Mark Messier, Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle Mark Messier was only a Ranger for six seasons, but his time there was memorable. He was the captain all six seasons, was above a point per game each season, and led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup in 1994. He was a fearless leader and had so many legendary moments during the Rangers’ 1994 Cup run, perhaps none bigger than guaranteeing that the Rangers would win Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final versus the New Jersey Devils. Rod Gilbert is the all-time leader in goals and points for the Rangers, with 406 and 1,021, respectively. He played his entire career with New York, a career that spanned 18 years and 1,065 games. While he never won a Stanley Cup, he is perhaps the first truly great Ranger, and he was the first to have his number retired, a feat that occurred just two seasons after he announced his retirement. Jean Ratelle was one of the most dynamic offensive players in Rangers history. He is a member of perhaps the most dangerous line in Rangers’ history with Rod Gilbert and Vic Hadfield. His elite offensive production was at its peak in the mid-1970s, headlined by the 1971-72 season that saw him produce 46 goals and 109 points in just 63 games. How Close Are Current Players? There are a few current Rangers that are on the outside looking in of this starting six, but the reality is that no one is particularly close to breaking through. Artemi Panarin actually leads all Rangers in points per game at 1.28, but he has only played seven seasons in New York and has not had enough playoff success. Igor Shesterkin has put up great numbers, but, similarly to Panarin, has not played enough seasons or done enough in the playoffs to challenge Lundqvist for his spot here. Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Adam Fox are also somewhat close, but still a step away from the efficiency and leadership elements that the players above possess.
Las Vegas Raiders finally find a solution to a problem that has emerged since the beginning of training camp
When training camp started for the Las Vegas Raiders, they had a ton of depth all around the roster. But, after one week, they did a scrimmage, and that depth instantly went down. During the scrimmage, backup safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. got hurt and suffered an injury that is bound to keep him out for a while. Now, he will be back at some point, because, as head coach Pete Carroll said, the Raiders want and need him. So, they finally made a move in replacing him. The Raiders signed a guy who can give them some experience in a pretty young position group. Raiders sign safety Terrell Edmunds Terrell Edmunds played college football at Virginia Tech from 2015 to 2017, leading to his selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Edmunds spent five seasons with the Steelers from 2018–2022, playing 79 games, starting 75, and racking up 410 tackles, 5 sacks, five interceptions, and 26 passes defended. His best year was 2019 with 105 tackles. After the Steelers declined his fifth-year option, he re-signed for 2022 but moved on in 2023, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans. In 2024, he briefly joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, he’s been jumping from practice squad to practice squad, but is looking to be a depth piece on the Raiders. Edmunds adds a veteran pretense to a room that has Chris Smith and Trey Taylor, two young guys who have never really played a full-time role in the defensive backfield. If Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jeremy Chinn went down, those two would be next in line, with little to no experience. So, the Raiders quickly got on the phone with Lonnie Johnson Jr. went down, but are finally making a change to the roster, bringing depth and experience. This is a very solid signing for the new regime.
Packers' Josh Jacobs speaks out on Matt LaFleur’s unclear plan
There is no denying who the alpha is in the Green Bay Packers running back room. After burning rubber for 1,329 rushing yards to go with 15 rushing touchdowns on 301 carries in the 2024 NFL season, Jacobs is expected to carry most of the load again in the Packers’ ground attack in 2025. Besides being a reliable and effective weapon on offense for the Packers, Jacobs was also durable in his first season with the team, having appeared in all of Green Bay’s 17 games in the regular season and in the lone contest in the NFL playoffs. Look for the 27-year-old former Alabama Crimson Tide star running back to be there starting in the backfield along with quarterback Jordan Love in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL regular season against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. But as for his availability and usage in this coming Saturday’s preseason opener at home versus the New York Jets, it won’t be surprising if he gets zero snaps at all, considering that there’s really nothing important on the line. Jacobs is ready whenever he’s called upon by the Green Bay Packers Jacobs said on Thursday that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has yet to convey a concrete plan for the Jets game. Nevertheless, he’ll be ready. Via Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers’ official website: Jacobs is on board with whatever direction LaFleur and the coaches decide to go but said wouldn’t mind getting “a couple series” to reacclimate to tackling. “We’ll see how it’ll play out,” Jacobs said. “(LaFleur) hasn’t really told us what we’re gonna do. But I think I’ll get a couple hits, get a little feel of it and be cool.” The Packers will also play the Indianapolis Colts on the road in Week 2 of the preseason before meeting the Seattle Seahawks for their final assignment before the regular season starts.
Commanders' signing of former third-round pick shows their opinions on the position group, and might foreshadow a current injury
Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn spoke with the media before practice today and continued to express his displeasure with the team's results in their blowout loss on Friday night. He spoke about the depth he likes on the team, but also hinted at some positions that could use some help. Quinn also said that the team would be working out a handful of players following practice today, and that they are always willing to improve the team where it's possible. Well, the Commanders signed a player today following the workouts that could hint at what Quinn was talking about, and more. Commanders sign former third-round pick The Commanders are signing a former third-round pick in LB Duke Riley, who was actually drafted by the Atlanta Falcons when Dan Quinn was the head coach there. This signing comes after the Commanders worked out 14 players after practice today, which contained seven linebackers and no wide receivers. After the performance we saw in the first preseason game on defense and special teams, these workouts shouldn't be surprising though. Riley was a starting linebacker in Atlanta when he was drafted in 2017, and eventually landed in Miami in 2021, where he has been a rotational linebacker and special-teams defender. That tells me a lot about what they saw on film after watching the first preseason game. Could the writing be on the wall? This immediately raises two flags for me: who would he replace on special teams, and what does this mean for the health of another linebacker? When you go back and watch the film, Dominique Hampton did not look good at all at his new linebacker position, and I don't have him making the active roster. The team also drafted Kain Medrano, who is listed as a linebacker on the depth chart by the team. Other than that, the Commanders have no true depth at linebacker. You have a special-teams ace who can't play linebacker, and a linebacker who can't play special teams. That's not a good combo for roster cuts. Veteran Nick Bellore has been an outstanding special-teams player, but could his lack of ability at linebacker cost the 36-year-old? Hopeful second-round linebacker Jordan Magee has so much potential, but he's already dealing with an undisclosed injury after playing only 16 snaps in his rookie season due to injuries. Signing Riley, who can rotate at linebacker and be a key special-teams piece, means that the team either doesn't like what they saw on film with special teams, or they aren't sure if Magee can stay healthy. Either way, this signing is filling in two major needs right now.
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