Maple Leafs' Top Defensive Prospect Ben Danford Reveals Where He Plans to Play in 2025-26
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
All eyes will be on Easton Cowan and Ben Danford at Maple Leafs training camp, but according to Danford himself, he already has his sights set on where he'll play this season.
While London Knights star Easton Cowan has clear designs on locking down an NHL roster spot this fall out of training camp, the same cannot be said for the Maple Leafs' top defensive prospect, Ben Danford.
Danford is only 19 years of age, and is ineligible to play in the AHL. He also missed all of Leafs training camp in 2024 due to a concussion that he suffered ahead of last year's rookie tournament.
This year, however, he'll participate in the rookie tournament and in training camp, barring an injury, and he also plans to test his mettle in some pre-season games.
As far as where he'll play next season, Danford isn't putting too much stock into beating out one of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Philippe Myers or Simon Benoit for a roster spot in Toronto. Instead, he already has his sights set on returning to the OHL and his Oshawa Generals for his final season of junior hockey.
Danford met with the media on Thursday and revealed what he plans to do to put himself in a position to succeed at a higher level: he's going to work on his offensive game.
I just want to put myself in a really good spot this training camp. It'd be great to get to some preseason games and show what I got at that level and everything, and we'll see what happens.
This year, it's a big year for me. It's my last year of junior and everything, so I just want to go back and work on every aspect of the game. I want to get some more offensive touches that way. Not just because I'm going to be an offensive guy at the next level, it's just to get those puck touches and stuff to get better with the puck and everything.
This year, it's a big year for me. It's my last year of junior and everything, so I just want to go back and work on every aspect of the game. I want to get some more offensive touches that way. Not just because I'm going to be an offensive guy at the next level, it's just to get those puck touches and stuff to get better with the puck and everything.
Danford was named captain of the Generals ahead of last season, and has definitely led by example with his fierce, competitive spirit and willingness to lay his body on the line every night.
While he certainly leaves something to be desired in the offense category, defensively, he's already carrying some Chris Tanev comparisons.
Danford may not spend the entire season in Oshawa, as early rumours have suggested that the Generals may trade him to kick-start a rebuild.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 12 | 1789 ANSWERS Maple Leafs' Top Defensive Prospect Ben Danford Reveals Where He Plans to Play in 2025-26 Do you think Ben Danford will be NHL ready after one more year of junior hockey? | ||
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