Ben Danford snubs Gary Bettman after being picked 31st by Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Ben Danford became an instant fan-favorite Friday night after his first interaction with Gary Bettman went viral.
The Leafs selected Danford with the 31st overall pick in the draft, originally owned by the Edmonton Oilers.
The pick made its way to Toronto after a series of trades. The 6'1" defenseman out of the OHL was clearly excited to be picked by the Leafs as he went on stage to shake hands with several members of the team's brass, including Brad Treliving and Craig Berube.
He's gonna fit in just fine! 😎
The one executive he did not shake hand with? None other than Gary Bettman himself. The move drew attention from fans around he league as well, who were quick to cheer for the kid.
Such a response from fans is just about exactly what we would expect at this point. After All, Gary Bettman has become the least popular name in the sport. Danford scored a single goal and had 33 points in 64 games with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL.
He followed that up with four goals and 10 points in 21 playoff games. He was expected to go in the second to third round, so this pick will likely be seen as a stretch to many. Luckily he already seems to be showing why the Leafs picked him.
| POLL | ||
Who do you think won the 2024 NHL draft the most? | ||
| San Jose | 357 | 33 % |
| Montreal | 332 | 30.7 % |
| Nashville | 89 | 8.2 % |
| Another team | 303 | 28 % |
| List of polls | ||
