The Leafs drafted Ben Danford at the tail end of the first round in last June’s draft, and he was lauded for his advanced defensive game as well as his physical play and overall mobility. Even as a player who prioritized defence, Danford registered a goal and 32 assists in 64 regular season games for the Oshawa Generals in his draft year, adding four more goals and six helpers in 21 postseason games as he helped guide the Generals to the OHL Final.
With a strong defensive foundation in place and a projectable NHL frame, the perception of Danford is that he has a relatively safe floor as a prospect, but still possesses some additional offensive upside that could allow him to grow into a legitimate two-way threat from the back end. Early on this season, however, the points were difficult to come by, and Danford had just two assists to his name through his first 10 games back with the Generals.
Danford was able to break through on Sunday in a big win over the Brantford Bulldogs, scoring his first goal of the season while adding an assist, bringing him to three points in his last three games and five points in 13 games overall.
It’s been a slow start offensively for Ben Danford but he blasted his first goal of the season and added an assist in Oshawa’s 5-2 win over Branford on Sunday#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/tpQuMXEpVj
— Nick Richard (@_NickRichard) November 4, 2024
Continuing to find a way to help produce offence will help take Danford’s game to the next level and propel him toward pro hockey, but he has still been contributing in other ways early on this season. Noted by opposing coaches as one of the more difficult players to play against in the Ontario Hockey League, Danford has brought his trademark physicality on a consistent basis, while routinely being matched against the opposition’s most dangerous forwards.
#LeafsForever 1st round pick Ben Danford with a very physical last 2 games. Steps up and destroys Ivan Galiyanov with a clean hit in Niagara and then does the same to Riley Clark the next night in Kingston pic.twitter.com/1IOj8NzMOj
— Generals Live (@GeneralsUpdates) October 26, 2024
Following the departure of 2017 first-round pick Timothy Liljegren last week, there has been added scrutiny in terms of the Leafs’ ability to draft and develop impactful defencemen to supplement their roster, but the belief is that Danford’s well-rounded game could help buck that trend in the next couple of years. He already has all the makings of a reliable defender at the pro level, but improved vision and offensive output will be the focus as he continues to develop in the OHL.
Notes from the rest of the prospect pool:
- Easton Cowan is yet to put together an explosive offensive performance like we saw so often last season, but he has still been a consistent threat, and he extended his regular-season point streak to 46 games with a clutch overtime winner against Owen Sound on Sunday. On the campaign, Cowan is up to seven goals and five assists through 10 games, and he is averaging nearly five shots on goal per game, so more big nights could be on the horizon for Toronto’s 2023 first-rounder.
THE COWBOY IN OVERTIME 💔@MapleLeafs | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/LCqmdljySF
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) November 3, 2024
- Fraser Minten was reassigned to the Marlies last week after missing all of training camp and the early part of the season with a high-ankle sprain, but he didn’t play in their lone game over the weekend. The organization opted to hold him out of game action just a bit longer as he continues to ramp up and get back up to speed in on-ice development sessions with the Marlies, but he is expected to make his AHL debut this coming weekend against the Charlotte Checkers.
- Noah Chadwick broke out in a big way offensively last season, and he is off to another strong start with the Lethbridge Hurricanes through the first few weeks of the WHL season. He notched a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to Red Deer and is now up to 10 points in 12 games. Chadwick is in the conversation to represent Canada at the upcoming World Juniors, but he’ll have to continue to prove he can be an offensive force from the blue line.
#LeafsForever prospect Noah Chadwick with a goal and an assist today, bringing him to 10 points in 12 games so far.pic.twitter.com/rXFGSIF9h6
— More like Nikita GREATbyonkin (@brigstew86) November 3, 2024
- Nicholas Moldenhauer’s sophomore campaign at the University of Michigan started slowly, registering just two assists in the first six games of the season. He busted the slump over the weekend in a two-game set against Boston University, notching an empty-netter for his first goal of the season in a 5-1 win on Friday and adding an assist in Saturday’s 5-4 overtime victory.
Evan Werner with his third of the weekend! Moldy and DK with the assists and Michigan is on the board first pic.twitter.com/AnyH0FoqxL
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) November 2, 2024
- Ty Voit lit up the scoresheet in an ECHL conditioning stint last year before his season came to an end during his first shift with the Marlies, but the production hasn’t come as easily on a struggling Cincinnati squad so far this year. Toronto’s new ECHL affiliate is winless through their first six games of the schedule, and Voit had been held off the board entirely until he scored his first goal of the season in a 5-4 loss to Toledo on Saturday. With the amount of bodies available and the new Leafs’ regime’s desire for a heavier style of play, the undersized Voit is going to have to pick up his offensive output in a big way to earn a look with the Marlies.
BACK TO BACK‼️ pic.twitter.com/iVCbOj2dTJ
— Cincinnati Cyclones (@CincyCyclones) November 3, 2024
- 2024 fifth-round pick Miroslav Holinka is settling in nicely with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL and is coming off his most productive stretch of games so far this season. In four games this past week, Holinka tallied four goals and a pair of assists, highlighted by a two-goal outing in a shootout victory over Seattle on Friday. Holinka has stepped right into a prominent role with his new club, and he has taken advantage with eight goals and five assists through his first 13 games.
#LeafsForever prospect Miroslav Holinka snipes his second goal of the game on the power play to tie it up. He’s up to 8 goals and 12 points in 12 games so far this season.pic.twitter.com/jr4misv4WJ
— More like Nikita GREATbyonkin (@brigstew86) November 2, 2024
- Victor Johansson continued his strong play this past week, scoring his third goal of the season in a losing effort against Djurgardens on Saturday. Johansson’s 16 points through 20 games at the J20 level in Sweden are twice as many as he produced last season, and he’s done it in 14 fewer games. He has already earned a recall to the SHL and barely saw any ice time in his lone appearance, but he should get a more serious look against stiffer competition if he continues to perform at a high level in the junior ranks.
- Sam McCue was one of the last players chosen in the 2024 draft, but he has been an integral part of the Owen Sound Attack’s lineup in the early going this season. The team has struggled as a whole, but with a goal in Saturday’s loss to Saginaw, McCue is up to second in team scoring with six goals and five assists through 13 games while playing a hard-driving, physical style of game.
#LeafsForever prospect Sam McCue got the bump up to he top line today, and had a goal, 6 shots and was +1 in Owen Sounds 6-2 loss today.
He has 6 goals and 11 points in 12 games this season.
pic.twitter.com/dJIku5G1Tv— More like Nikita GREATbyonkin (@brigstew86) November 2, 2024
- From one of the last players chosen in the 2024 draft to the very last player chosen, Nathan Mayes scored his second goal of the season in Friday’s 4-2 win over Portland. Mayes was drafted on the strength of his physical makeup and hard-hitting style, and he has chipped in with six points through 15 games on the back end for Spokane so far this season.
MAYSER TIES GAME!!! 2-2!#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/y93ISRqrcH
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) November 2, 2024
- Dartmouth College finally kicked off their season this past weekend, and 2020 seventh-rounder John Fusco made his presence felt from the back end. Dartmouth won against Harvard on Friday, and Fusco helped propel them to another victory over Stonehill on Saturday with a goal and an assist in the contest. Though he is in tough to earn an entry-level contract with the Leafs, a big senior year could draw some attention from Brad Treliving and his staff.
John Fusco fired his first goal of the season in a 5-2 win against Stonehill on Sunday. He also added a secondary assist.
Dartmouth starts 2-0 for the first time since 2007. They finished last season well, nice to see them carrying momentum into the new campaign.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/v3AgH4OeL6
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) November 4, 2024
Statistics from EliteProspects.com
