New Report May Prevent the Maple Leafs From Granting Top Prospect a Golden Opportunity

Thanks to the recently negotiated collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHLPA, several notable changes are expected to shake up the league in the coming seasons. The most talked-about is the new playoff salary cap measure, which will require teams to submit a 20-man roster under the cap before each postseason game.

However, another potential rule (one that hasn't been finalized) is generating plenty of buzz; it could have a major impact on young players like Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ben Danford. According to early reports, AHL teams may soon be allowed to carry one 19-year-old player who would otherwise be required to remain in the CHL.

If implemented in time for next season, this rule could open the door for Danford to leave the OHL early and join the Toronto Marlies, giving him exposure to professional hockey sooner than expected.

Selected 31st overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, Danford is a 6'2», 192-pound right-shot defenseman from Belleville, Ontario. He embodies the style the Leafs covet: steady, physical, and willing to engage in tough, defensive play. If he were eligible to play in the AHL, Toronto could give him an early taste of the pro game, accelerating his growth in ways the OHL might not be able to match.

Danford has already been the subject of trade chatter both in the OHL and in speculation about his NHL timeline. A year with the Marlies would allow him to log difficult minutes against men, learning from experienced veterans and adapting to a system more aligned with the Maple Leafs' long-term plans.

He has often been projected as a future shutdown defenseman, perhaps filling a role similar to Chris Tanev's. The Maple Leafs hope he turns out to be reliable, physical, and capable of steadying a defensive partner such as Jake McCabe, much like Tanev does now.

Even if the rule change doesn't come into effect immediately, the possibility would be game-changing for player development. Toronto's prospect pool is shallow, and so having an option to integrate Danford into the pro system earlier would be a strategic advantage, helping both his development and the team's depth chart.

If the rule does come into effect, and if Toronto chooses to take advantage of it, Danford could be on a faster track to the NHL. With Tanev nearing the latter stages of his career, there's a clear path for Danford to step into a larger role by the 2026-27 season. Injuries or roster shuffling could even accelerate that timeline.

For now, it remains hypothetical. But if the NHLPA finalizes this 19-year-old AHL loan rule with the CHL, the Leafs could suddenly have an opportunity to shape one of their top prospects in a professional setting years earlier than previously thought, and Danford could benefit more than anyone.