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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they have signed 2024 first round pick Ben Danford to a three-year entry-level contract on Friday. The 18-year-old defenseman was selected 31st overall at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas in June out of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League.
Pen to paper ✍️
We’ve signed defenceman Ben Danford to a three-year, entry-level contract
Danford had 33 points (one goal, 32 assists) in 64 games with the Generals last season, with 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 21 playoff games, helping Oshawa reach the OHL Championship Series before losing to Easton Cowan’s London Knights. The 6’2, 192 lb. blueliner has 54 points (5 goals, 49 assists) through 127 career regular season OHL games while collecting 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 26 career playoff games.
The Madoc, ON native is a lifelong Leaf fan who improved his stock in the second half and during a deep OHL playoff run. According to the Hockey Prospect Black Book, Danford is a “smooth-skating, right-shot presence…who provides high-level leadership and competes and was relied upon for his defensive game and excellence on the penalty kill while being a sturdy second-year leader on a young Generals team. His awareness, ability to get the puck out of the zone, and consistent shot-blocking make him a must-have on the ice when a man down.”
EP's Scouting Guide said of Danford "(he) thinks the game in a more advanced way than most.
He knows how to defend in-zone and how to move the puck up the ice, but he couldn’t always execute his ideas in the early parts of the season. The puck would spring off his stick in the middle of a maneuver and he would trip attempting to pivot and close in on an opponent.
But as his technical ability and offensive touch improved his success rate went up."
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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