The Toronto Maple Leafs head into training camp with more than just a roster battle on their hands. For a few prospects, this fall is about something bigger: proving they’re not just names in the pipeline, but players who can actually stick in the NHL.
That pressure lands hardest on three players in particular as they enter the 2026-27 season. Ben Danford, Jacob Quillan and Luke Haymes all have a case to make, and all three are at a point where a strong showing could change their path fast.
Ben Danford is the headline name here, and for good reason. The 20-year-old was Toronto’s first-round pick in 2024, and the Leafs even moved down from 23 to 31 knowing he might still be there. The goal was straightforward: add a right-shot defenseman with size who could grow into a real piece on the blue line.
Danford is not being sold as some franchise-altering star, and nobody in the organization is pretending he’s the next Cale Makar. But Toronto clearly saw enough to believe he could become a steady NHL defender, and that matters even more because the Leafs don’t have many right-shot options in the system.
Chris Tanev’s injury could also create an opening, which gives Danford a real chance to force the issue early. If he keeps impressing, he could even begin the season in the NHL, as long as there’s a spot available.
Marlie coach Steve Sullivan on Ben Danford pushing at Leaf main camp: "I don’t think it’s his age (20), but he’s gotten those deep (AHL) reps he needed against really big guys. He doesn’t need much, it’s whether there’s room and can he be better than the sixth (D) on the Leafs.”
If Danford doesn’t separate himself, the questions around Toronto’s defensive depth only get louder. Noah Chadwick and Hayes Hundley could even move ahead of him on the chart. That’s why this season feels so important: Danford needs to show he belongs in the Leafs’ future core.
Quillan’s situation is different, but no less delicate. The 24-year-old got a real look late last season, appearing in 23 games while the Leafs essentially played out the string. He finished with one goal and three points, averaging fewer than 10 minutes a night in a mostly fourth-line role.
That usage probably undersold what he can offer. Quillan has more upside than being a simple energy-line piece, but the path to a roster spot is narrow. Toronto’s offseason addition makes it harder for him to crack the lineup, and that means camp matters a lot.
If he can turn in a strong preseason and some regulars stumble, there’s a chance for a call-up. That matters even more because he’s on a one-year deal. If he can’t show he can fill some kind of NHL role, the Leafs may simply move on.
There’s also a warning sign here for Toronto: letting Quillan walk for nothing could end up looking a lot like the Alex Steeves situation.
Haymes might be the most interesting name of the group. The 23-year-old joined the organization last year as a college free agent and made a strong first impression with the Marlies, putting up 17 goals and 33 points in 66 games.
That production stands out for a first-year pro. He also got into four NHL games and picked up one assist, though the small sample doesn’t tell the whole story.
Haymes has the kind of upside that could make him a dependable middle-six forward if everything clicks. The challenge is getting the opportunity to prove it, because there isn’t an obvious opening for him right now.
Still, he should be among the first players called up if injuries hit. Being waivers-exempt gives the Leafs some flexibility, so he could get a look and then head back to the Marlies if there isn’t room to stay.
He’s also entering the second year of a two-year deal, which raises the stakes even more. Haymes has to show he belongs, or he may not get another real shot with the Leafs. That would be a tough outcome for a prospect who looks like he could be something.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Could Make Bottom Six A Lot More Interesting
The Maple Leafs already made one family connection this summer when they landed defenseman Darren Raddysh from Tampa Bay in a sign-and-trade, and now there is at least a little buzz around whether they might try to bring his brother Taylor into the picture as well. Taylor Raddysh is with the Rangers, but roster constraints in New York could leave him available, which naturally gets a team like Toronto thinking about how another depth piece might fit.
For the Leafs, the appeal goes beyond the novelty of reuniting brothers. A move for Taylor would be about giving the bottom six another layer of competition and a little more versatility, something that can matter a lot over the course of a season. Whether Toronto actually gets involved remains to be seen, but it is the kind of low-risk, high-interest idea that tends to linger when a team has already shown it is willing to connect the Raddysh family to the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Mitch Marner Just Weighed In On Torontos Bold Darren Raddysh Bet
Torontos wager on Darren Raddysh says plenty about how far the organization is willing to go after a breakthrough season. Fresh off a 70-point breakout, he landed an eight-year, $68 million contract, the kind of commitment that instantly changes expectations around a player and the team around him. For the Maple Leafs, it is a bold bet on production, growth and the idea that what Raddysh showed last year is only the start.
Mitch Marner, now with the Vegas Golden Knights, also took notice of the move and made clear he has been impressed by Raddyshs work ethic. His public praise adds another layer to a signing already carrying plenty of weight, especially because the Leafs are banking on that effort translating into lasting impact. The contract is in place, the spotlight is on, and the bigger question is how quickly Raddysh can turn that promise into something the Leafs can build around. [Read more 🡒]
Max Domi Just Gave The Maple Leafs A Real Camp Problem
The Maple Leafs opened camp with a familiar kind of uncertainty around Max Domi, and this one carries more weight than a routine preseason absence. General manager John Chayka said the forward will not be ready when camp begins and will remain out indefinitely after complications from an offseason surgery, leaving Toronto without one of the veteran pieces it expected to have available from day one. The club has not said what procedure Domi had, and the lack of detail only adds to the sense that this is more than a short-term hiccup.
Domi is expected to speak publicly about the injury at a later date, but for now the Leafs are left to sort out a roster picture that was supposed to be clearer by September. His absence matters because he is under contract for two more seasons, and Toronto had been counting on him as part of its forward mix entering the year. For a team trying to get organized early, the bigger issue is not just who fills in right away, but how long it will be until one of its more established forwards is actually able to join the lineup. [Read more 🡒]