Maple Leafs Share First Look at Top Prospect Ben Danford's Upper Deck Sports Photos

With the NHLPA Rookie Showcase wrapping up, it's no secret that being invited to this exclusive event is a major honour for any young player. Among the group of top prospects this year was Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Ben Danford.

From Belleville, Ontario, Danford was selected 31st overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. For Toronto, this pick has already begun to look promising, as Danford was the only Leafs prospect to take part in this year's showcase. That fact alone shows how highly regarded he is within the organization and across the league.

This selection also carried symbolic weight for the Leafs. It marked one of the first real shifts in direction under GM Brad Treliving, whose drafting philosophy contrasts sharply with that of Kyle Dubas.

Whereas Dubas often leaned toward smaller, highly skilled and often even European forwards, Treliving's first notable swing was for a big, right-shot homegrown defenseman, something Leafs fans had been clamoring for over the past several years.

At 6'2» and 192 pounds, Danford fits the modern shutdown mold: steady, physical, and defensively responsible. He may not be the flashiest player, but his quiet, reliable style has already started to turn heads.

Around the showcase, his poise and consistency drew praise, and it's clear that the Leafs believe he can develop into a long-term NHL contributor.

For Leafs fans, this was also one of the first opportunities to see Danford in blue and white, captured in photos alongside other top names from across the league. Among them were massive prospects like projected 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer, further emphasizing the caliber of talent Danford was measured against.

All told, his presence at the showcase was more than just a photo op; it was a statement that Ben Danford is on track to be a significant piece of Toronto's future.