Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect given major honor after being cut from the team

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Austin Kelly
October 2, 2024 (8:46 PM)

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A Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect has been awarded a top honor by his club after returning from the Leafs training camp.

Leafs 2024 first round draft pick Ben Danford was named captain of the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals, the team officially announced today. Danford was recently assigned to Oshawa after getting time in Toronto.

Serving alongside the new Captain Danford is Colorado Avalanche 2023 first round pick Calum Ritchie, Columbus Blue Jackets third rounder Luca Marrelli, undrafted forward Matthew Buckley, and hometown overager Luke Torrance.

Danford, 18, had a goal and 33 points in 64 games for the Generals in the 2023-24 OHL season, an assistant captain for Oshawa last season at juat 17 years of age. A physical and defensively capable right-handed defenseman, Danford was drafted by a Leafs scouting team that used a large portion of it's draft picks on adding strength and size to it's pipeline both on defense and offense with Danford leading the way on that front.

The Generals are expected to be a contending team in the OHL, having lost in the finals to the London Knights. Oshawa have Danford & Ritchie returning, with the belief that Anaheim Ducks third overall pick Beckett Sennecke will also be making his way back from Oshawa after training camp, making his preseason debut tonight after recovering from a foot injury.

At the same time, Oshawa also remains in the hunt for Winnipeg Jets forward Colby Barlow. Although there have been reports of a deal in place, a source with knowledge of the situation says a deal is not finalized to move Barlow, who has just returned from Jets training camp. Barlow has reportedly requested a trade from the OHL Owen Sound Attack, according to Greg Cowan of the Owen Sound Sun Times.

Oshawa, along with the Barrie Colts, are believed to be the two main frontrunner, with picks and young "potential" players what have led talks with the Generals. Although no deal is done, Oshawa is perceived as the favorite, a source says.

Currently, the Generals are second in the OHL Eastern Conference after three games with a 1-0-1-1 record.