High-end defensive prospect reacts to signing his first contract with the Leafs

Danford, a right-shot defenseman with elite defensive instincts, was thrilled to put pen to paper on a 3-year ELC with the Maple Leafs on Friday, and before the ink could even dry on the paper, Danford took to social media, sharing his initial thoughts after signing the deal with the team he grew up adoring on his personal Instagram account, wearing an ear-to-ear smile in the photo attached.

Danford was selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, after the Leafs traded down with the Anaheim Ducks, who took Norwegian defenseman Stian Solberg with the 23rd overall pick.

The Maple Leafs were very high on Danford from the very beginning, with their interest in him only intensifying after the NHL's Scouting Combine in June. Most scouts had Danford slated to go towards the middle of the 2nd round, but rather than chance trading down again and missing out on their guy, Treliving and company opted to keep the 31st pick and use it on Danford, who has cheered for the Maple Leafs since he was a kid, growing up in Madoc, Ontario.

It will likely still be at least 2-3 years before we see Danford in the National Hockey League, but all indicators point to the Leafs drafting a good one at the end of the first round back on June 28th.