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

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You forgot Liljegren and Sandin. It's actually 6 of 19 picks from the first two rounds being defensemen, which isn't abnormal.
The 5 years before that we drafted Rielly, Finn, Percy, Blacker, and Schenn in the first two rounds

I think what's more telling is that before Danford last year we have to go back to Sandin and Durzi in 2018 to find a top pick being used on D.
That's a long stretch, and all the other D prospects pretty much aged out by then.

I personally don't really think Danford was the player to necessarily break that selection-drought, but we could really use a successful top D pick
 
I think what's more telling is that before Danford last year we have to go back to Sandin and Durzi in 2018 to find a top pick being used on D.
I think that's because we had just used our 1st and 2nd in 2017 and 2018 on defensemen, and our forward prospects were pretty depleted after graduations. Technically, Niemela was 64th overall in that timeframe, which was an early 3rd at the time, but would be a 2nd round pick today.
 
It was a big game in Oshawa tonight with playoff-like intensity between two of the top teams in the OHL as London came to town.

Leafs President Brendan Shanahan was in the press box watching a pair of the Leafs top prospects go head to head. Even Fraser Minten was in the crowd watching his two buddies square off.

Unfortunately for Danford, he had his worst game of the season. It was obvious right from the beginning of the game that London was targeting Danford with big hits on the forecheck. He took two or three crunching checks early on, including one from Cowan that laid him out. Danford got up and immediately took a dumb penalty for a retaliation cross check.

I mentioned previously that Danford takes more punishment than he dishes out. He just doesn’t have that nasty streak in him to dish out some dirty payback when the refs aren’t looking. I’m not sure if he’ll ever develop that in time.

Then in overtime, Oshawa’s two forwards literally crashed the net and were tied up in the crease with a London player when Danford decided to gamble and pinch on a loose puck in the corner. It was a gamble that he didn’t really have much chance of winning. Cowan was leaking out of the zone and of course Danford lost the gamble as the puck was chipped ahead to Cowan who went in on a clear cut breakaway to end the game.

I felt terrible for Benny, especially seeing him doubled over his stick with his head down because he knew he’d screwed up. And with his boss in attendance to make matters worse. Granted, he was in a tough situation either way on that final play. If he had backed off, it would have been a sure 2-on-1 for London - - which is almost as bad as the breakaway.

Going to be interesting to see what happens with Danford and Cowan this week.

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Dude blows - how you trade down from Solberg for this guy or just not pick Cole Hutson after him doing exactly what his brother was doing at the same age is just crazy
 
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Dude blows - how you trade down from Solberg for this guy or just not pick Cole Hutson after him doing exactly what his brother was doing at the same age is just crazy

I don't think he blows, he has been shifted to the main shut down guy though, obviously a new role.

Beyond that, the guy that is primarily responsible left to join Pittsburgh, curious to see how our draft will go with Leach leading the charge now.
 
Can't get over how botched this pick looks. He has regressed big time, on pace for less points than last year and a much worse +/-. Meanwhile we traded down from Solberg who is already playing professional games with way better tools.

We literally reverted to drafting fridges on skates again like we were under Mark Hunter.
 
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Can't get over how botched this pick looks. He has regressed big time, on pace for less points than last year and a much worse +/-. Meanwhile we traded down from Solberg who is already playing professional games with way better tools.

We literally reverted to drafting fridges on skates again like we were under Mark Hunter.
Mindboggling indeed. Perfect player at position, bird in hand, sitting, waiting for Toronto to accept him.

Because Konecny isn't enough of a yearly reminder of that sort of galaxy-brained fiasco.
 
Can't get over how botched this pick looks. He has regressed big time, on pace for less points than last year and a much worse +/-. Meanwhile we traded down from Solberg who is already playing professional games with way better tools.

We literally reverted to drafting fridges on skates again like we were under Mark Hunter.

I remember hearing that the mandate was to find the best RHD during that draft. I can’t remember if it was on the blue print or a different podcast. I remember wanting Solberg or Elick badly
 
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Awful way to draft, especially after the first handful of picks. No wonder our head scout left.

I'd love to know his underlying numbers, I don't know enough about Danford tbh. Overall point production went down, but goal scoring is up a little bit. Relative to those dmen drafted around him, his offensive numbers are better, granted a few are playing pro hockey, not junior. Like his offensive numbers are better than Elick's. How are his defensive stats? is he playing better defensively than EJ Emery or Solberg?
 
Whole Oshawa team has under performed to date, though they aren't as good and not nearly as well coached as last year. Losing Laxdall was a huge blow to the entire team/culture. People truly under estimate this factor.

Regardless, anyone using plus/minus or the like to justify their view point, really has none.

Watch games, not boxscores.
 
I think Danford will be fine but the timetable for him to be an everyday minute munching D is going to be after our window. Solberg is going to be a better Benoit as early as next season and would have grown into McCabe’s shutdown minutes as he ages out. Trading down for a late 2nd when you give away 1sts for nothing stinks.
 
Whole Oshawa team has under performed to date, though they aren't as good and not nearly as well coached as last year. Losing Laxdall was a huge blow to the entire team/culture. People truly under estimate this factor.

Regardless, anyone using plus/minus or the like to justify their view point, really has none.

Watch games, not box scores.
The bold is better than Registered User.
 
The biggest problem with Oshawa this year is the terrible coaching. Pretty much everyone on the team has regressed including Danford - - Colby Barlow is a shell of what he was two years ago, Cal Ritchie has been struggling badly over the past six weeks, and despite an increase in his point totals Beckett Sennecke has also struggled with undisciplined penalties and foolish turnovers.

If Danford was in London playing for the Hunter brothers, you’d see his level of play take a huge step forward this year just like Sam Dickinson has. They understand what it takes to play at the pro level and they coach their players accordingly.

Oshawa will be trading Danford next season, so at least he’ll get some competent coaching then.

The good news is that Danford is still willing to do the dirty work of blocking shots and taking a hit to make a play. On Sunday night, in a completely meaningless final game of the season with the score already decided in favour of Oshawa, Danford went down to block a shot and took a slap shot directly in his face. Fortunately, it hit his visor but with such force that it split the visor. I can’t even imagine how devastating it would have been if the shot had been just a couple inches lower.
 
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The two Gens games I've seen in person this year he looked quite good

He strikes me as someone reading the ice very well .but for whatever reason doesn't quite have the puck skills to translate into raw output.

Ideally he can become a physical second pairing guy.

I wouldn't say he's untouchable moving forward but I also wouldn't rush to trade him unless the deal was well worth it
 
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Do you guys have draft grievance posters tacked up in your rec rooms/bedrooms Holy shit there comes a time that you need to realize that you can't change the past, ya gotta let go, it will improve your mental health.
 
Whole Oshawa team has under performed to date, though they aren't as good and not nearly as well coached as last year. Losing Laxdall was a huge blow to the entire team/culture. People truly under estimate this factor.

Regardless, anyone using plus/minus or the like to justify their view point, really has none.

Watch games, not boxscores.
Would you be able to offer some insights on his season?
 

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