Toronto Reporter Shares Exciting News Regarding Maple Leafs Prospect Ben Danford

Before the departure of Kyle Dubas, it really felt like the Maple Leafs' first-round picks during his tenure were almost always small, skilled wingers. While that isn't always necessarily a bad thing, fans were eager to see a change of pace. That's why the 2024 selection of Ben Danford felt like such a cultural shift.

Danford, a 6'2», 192-pound right-shot defenseman from Belleville, Ontario, isn't going to score 15 to 20 goals a year. Instead, he's built to be a hard-hitting, shutdown defenseman, one of the hardest player types to find. Just look at one of his idols, Chris Tanev, who went undrafted despite having tenacity and strong defensive instincts.

The challenge with scouting defensive defensemen is that their best work often goes unnoticed. If nothing happens on their watch, it means they've done their job well. That subtlety makes them tough to evaluate, which is why the Leafs landing Danford in the late first round feels like such a home run.

Danford was just invited to the Upper Deck and NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Washington, D.C., joining top prospects like Calgary's Zayne Parekh and the Islanders' recent first-overall pick, Matthew Schaefer.

As mentioned, it's rare for shutdown defensemen to earn such invites, since their work isn't as flashy or noticeable as that of star forwards.

Being invited to such a prestigious rookie showcase only increases the excitement. For a team that hasn't had many prospects in the spotlight lately, this is a big deal. Outside of Easton Cowan, the Leafs' pipeline isn't exactly loaded, so having Danford stand out is refreshing for the fanbase.

Danford could be the perfect protege for Chris Tanev. Tanev, now older and battered after another grueling playoff run, can't keep taking that kind of punishment forever. Danford represents the next generation, a player who can step in and bring that same sort of stability to the blueline.

For a prospect fans weren't sure about on draft day, this is turning into a great sign. If things continue on this path, the Leafs may have finally found the long-term defensive anchor they have so long missed.