Prospect Info: [2024] 1st rd selection - #31 OA - RD, Ben Danford - Oshawa Generals, OHL (6′2″/191lb) --Signed to ELC

[4thline]

They weren't drafted in the first round. And they're the exception to the rule, not the rule. So it leaves a bit of room for hope, but not much.

Where they were drafted is kind of irrelevant. Listed so far:
Manson, Middleton, Vlasic, Dillon (didnt produce beans offensively until his U20 year).

Some more that came to mind:
Lindgren, Carlo, Cernak, Edmundson

That's a lot of exceptions to the rule, making up a significant proportion of that "middle pair physical DFD" pool in the league

 

[francis246]

Where they were drafted is kind of irrelevant. Listed so far:
Manson, Middleton, Vlasic, Dillon (didnt produce beans offensively until his U20 year).

Some more that came to mind:
Lindgren, Carlo, Cernak, Edmundson

That's a lot of exceptions to the rule.

I don’t even think Danford’s production compared to those guys is that low. He’s already surpassed his goals from last year. He’s a defensive dman. If he puts up 30 points and has great defensive metrics that’s a win.

 

[Stephen]

His big hits has me thinking Luke Schenn, who had similarly low offensive numbers out of the WHL.

The difference being we traded up for Schenn to get him in the top 5, a move typically reserved for franchise changing players, and not Luke Schenn. Where we picked Danford wasn't nearly the same level of investment and expectation. And also Schenn was physically mature and could play right away and be a physical presence at 19. Danford comparatively still has a gangly appearance and don't think he'll be imposing his size on anyone at the NHL for years to come.

 

[saltming]

Good shut down guys can move the puck efficiently, getting the puck out of your zone to one of your guys helps the old G/A

So are you saying he cannot?

 

[Kiwi]

So are you saying he cannot?

He seemed to pick up offensively in the second half of last season, if he can do it then I don't see why he's incapable of it now

I'd have to sit down and watch him shift by shift but usually if you're moving the puck well you pick up points, especially in junior

I'm just hoping the head knock he took has got him off to a slow start but he starts picking up soon much like last season

 

[ULF_55]

He seemed to pick up offensively in the second half of last season, if he can do it then I don't see why he's incapable of it now

I'd have to sit down and watch him shift by shift but usually if you're moving the puck well you pick up points, especially in junior

I'm just hoping the head knock he took has got him off to a slow start but he starts picking up soon much like last season

I haven't had the chance to watch him, other than highlights. And the summer tournament where I thought he looked good.

At this point it just looks like Columbus might have one of the steals of the draft with Marrelli in the 3rd. round. Leafs drafted the wrong guy. Marrelli outscoring 2023 1st. rounder Oliver Bonk by a huge chunk.
Marrelli has 3 times the points of the next closest defender on his team.

 

[Kiwi]

I haven't had the chance to watch him, other than highlights. And the summer tournament where I thought he looked good.

At this point it just looks like Columbus might have one of the steals of the draft with Marrelli in the 3rd. round. Leafs drafted the wrong guy. Marrelli outscoring 2023 1st. rounder Oliver Bonk by a huge chunk.
Marrelli has 3 times the points of the next closest defender on his team.


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I thought he looked solid but he was injured pretty early on so it was hard to get a great gage on where he's at

Perhaps, but a ton of guys fall off when they hit pro, I don't think Marrelli or Danford are sure things and once you start defending against men it separates guys pretty quickly

 

[ULF_55]

I thought he looked solid but he was injured pretty early on so it was hard to get a great gage on where he's at

Perhaps, but a ton of guys fall off when they hit pro, I don't think Marrelli or Danford are sure things and once you start defending against men it separates guys pretty quickly

All of them fall into that category, Bonk, Parekh, Yakemchuk, Dickinson ... Leafs Johansson could end up being best of the lot.

Unlikely, but

 

[horner]

Undrafted...

I know

 

[Namikaze Minato]

A lot of posts in here talking about 'points' sound awfully similar to the posts about Minten's point totals in the CHL.

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

A lot of posts in here talking about 'points' sound awfully similar to the posts about Minten's point totals in the CHL.

Which doesn't make sense, because Minten was a point per game player, his last two seasons in the WHL.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

His big hits has me thinking Luke Schenn, who had similarly low offensive numbers out of the WHL.

The difference being we traded up for Schenn to get him in the top 5, a move typically reserved for franchise changing players, and not Luke Schenn. Where we picked Danford wasn't nearly the same level of investment and expectation. And also Schenn was physically mature and could play right away and be a physical presence at 19. Danford comparatively still has a gangly appearance and don't think he'll be imposing his size on anyone at the NHL for years to come.

I can see the comparison due to the physicality, where they seem to differ big time is the skating ability...hoping Danford can continue making strides in that area and be a guy that's physical and can be in the right spot. I don't care if he puts up points, we need to develop our own Tanev.

 

[Stephen]

I can see the comparison due to the physicality, where they seem to differ big time is the skating ability...hoping Danford can continue making strides in that area and be a guy that's physical and can be in the right spot. I don't care if he puts up points, we need to develop our own Tanev.

Agreed. We also need to find the next organizational puck mover on D who is basically in your Jake Sanderson, Brandt Clarke mold. Skating, skill, reach and wingspan, projects to be a minute muncher. You put those two building blocks in place you can infill the rest of the blueline with existing veterans and shrewd acquisitions.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Agreed. We also need to find the next organizational puck mover on D who is basically in your Jake Sanderson, Brandt Clarke mold. Skating, skill, reach and wingspan, projects to be a minute muncher. You put those two building blocks in place you can infill the rest of the blueline with existing veterans and shrewd acquisitions.

One was picked 5th overall, and the other was picked 8th overall. Our previous management team generally didn't like drafting in the 1st round.

 

[Dekes For Days]

One was picked 5th overall, and the other was picked 8th overall. Our previous management team generally didn't like drafting in the 1st round.

We're never drafting 5th or 8th overall until our next rebuild, whether we have our 1st round pick or not.

 

[Stephen]

One was picked 5th overall, and the other was picked 8th overall. Our previous management team generally didn't like drafting in the 1st round.

Of course, but these guys do slip through the cracks once in a while so amateur scouting better be on their tip toes.

 

[The Shadow]

I’m

Of course, but these guys do slip through the cracks once in a while so amateur scouting better be on their tip toes.

exactly! Shea Weber was a 2nd round pick. I believe because he had some injuries but I can’t remember

 

[Stephen]

I’m

exactly! Shea Weber was a 2nd round pick. I believe because he had some injuries but I can’t remember

Even in the late first round guys like Shea Theodore and K’Andre Miller are pretty good all tool athletes on D.