When the Toronto Maple Leafs hit the reset button back in 2014 under Brendan Shanahan, they committed to a clear-cut philosophy: take the best player available, no matter the position. It was a long-overdue shift for a franchise that had often been caught chasing need over talent.
But fast forward to the 2024 NHL Draft, and their selection of defenseman Ben Danford at 31st overall raised a few eyebrows-not because of who Danford is, but because of what he represents. On paper, it looked like a departure from their “best player available” mantra.
In reality, it might just be the kind of pick that helps balance out a roster that’s been crying out for his exact profile.
Danford isn’t the flashiest name from that draft class, but he’s the type of player Toronto has sorely lacked throughout the Auston Matthews era-a steady, right-shot defenseman who plays with poise, defends with purpose, and chips in offensively when the moment calls for it. He’s not being penciled into a top-pair role just yet, but the signs are there: he’s trending in the right direction, and if he keeps this up, his NHL debut might not be far off.
At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Danford brings size and structure to the blue line. Drafted out of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, he wore the captain’s “C” before being traded early this season to the powerhouse Brantford Bulldogs-just eight games into the 2025-26 campaign. That move turned out to be a game-changer for him.
His offensive numbers dipped a bit last season-25 points in 61 games, down from 33 in 64 during his draft year-but the trade to Brantford has reignited his game. With the Bulldogs, who currently sit atop the OHL and have only dropped seven games in regulation all year, Danford has found his stride again.
Since joining them, he’s put up 13 points in 20 games, bringing his total to 17 points in 28 games this season. It’s not just about the numbers, though.
It’s about the situations he’s thriving in and the role he’s carving out on a contending team.
Danford also earned a spot on Team Canada at the 2026 World Juniors, where he played all seven games and helped the team to a bronze medal. While he wasn’t a top-pair guy for Canada, his deployment told a story.
Head coach Dale Hunter leaned on him in key defensive moments-penalty kills, late-game shutdown shifts, 6-on-5 scenarios. He wasn’t just along for the ride; he was trusted to protect leads and manage pressure.
That’s the kind of responsibility that translates well to the pro game.
Offensively, he wasn’t lighting up the scoresheet-just one assist in the tournament-but he showed confidence with the puck, made clean breakout passes, and didn’t look overwhelmed when the play tilted toward the offensive zone. It was a glimpse of a player who knows his role and plays it well.
Now, as Danford celebrates his 20th birthday, the next chapter is coming into focus. This will be his final season of junior hockey, and if all goes according to plan, he’ll be wearing a Toronto Marlies jersey next fall.
He’s likely to get a serious look in a top-pairing role, with minutes on both the power play and penalty kill. But don’t rule out the possibility-however slim-of him making a surprise push for the Leafs’ opening night roster, much like Easton Cowan did before him.
Whether he starts in the AHL or shocks the hockey world with an NHL debut, Danford’s development arc is exactly what Toronto needs. He’s not just another prospect-he’s a potential solution to a long-standing gap on the right side of the Leafs’ blue line. And if he caps off his junior career with a Memorial Cup run in Brantford, that momentum could carry him straight into a much bigger spotlight.