Top Leafs Prospect Excites Fans With Game-changing Shift Sparking Speculation About His Trade Value
One Toronto Maple Leafs prospect has given fans excitement over a recent clip that has made some fans view him as the next big thing.
The Toronto Maple Leafs don't have a deep prospect pool, with the lack of a top player in their system who projects as a key asset. Even top prospects such as Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten are viewed less as first line players and more potentially impactful middle-six forwards.
Now, Toronto Maple Leafs fans have their eye on another top prospect in Ben Danford, as the Leafs 2024 first rounder is being hyped up by Leafs diehards as excitement builds over his game.
Danford, a right-handed defenseman with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League, was drafted 31st overall by the Leafs.
A recent game against the Brampton Steelheads excited fans on one shift as he laid out a massive hit on Steelheads star forward and projected 2025 Top-5 draft prospect Porter Martone and then got into a scrap against Minnesota Wild draft pick Stevie Leskovar.
Analysis: Just How Good Is Ben Danford As A Player?
With Ben Danford having a fairly impressive shift, Leafs fans quickly hoped on board with enthusiasm for the young defenseman, with some fans even calling Danford a "can't trade" prospect.
Ben Danford's game has always been more on the defensive side of things rather than offense, a pure stay-at-home defenseman who focuses on his own end of the ice.
Danford lacks much in offensive pedigree even when he attempts to put himself into the play, as he lacks much of a shot and is just an average playmaker, but does well as a transition defenseman takes to solid skating.
On a Generals team with offensive talent up front in Beckett Sennecke, Calum Ritchie, & Colby Barlow, all first round picks, stands less of a need for Danford to be active on offense and being a creator.
The lack of offense does limit his upside just a bit. He likely won't be a top-pairing defenseman with his average offensive tools, but has a potential NHL pedigree with his mixture of raw physicality and defensive IQ, as well as translatable mobility with the puck.
He's not an unmoveable asset as he's not the type of game-changing defenseman that takes you off trade discussions, but he's a big, reliable RHD that teams look for to fill out the end of their roster.
Danford is being valued on his defensive ability, and while the lack of an offensive game could be a question mark over how much his game will evolve jumping up to the pro level.
This season, Danford has five goals and 16 assists in 51 games for the Oshawa Generals.
Much of the foundation of his game has the ability to compete and win battles for the puck when needed, which will make him a potential shutdown option in the bottom-four for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530920.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Mitch Marner (16) warms up prior to the during the first periodau- during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530913.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Mitch Marner (16) warms up prior to the during the first periodau- during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images")
