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

[TheKrebsCycle]

Best case, he develops into a Dylan Demelo type.

Or a right handed Slavin ? lol

 

[BertCorbeau]

Did they not see anyone much better at 23. Why the trade.

That was probably the reason.. the same calibre of prospect was available at 31 as 23… we will see if it pays off

 

[SprDaVE]

Very detailed report here:

2024 NHL SCOUTING REPORT (VIDEO + GRADES): Ben Danford, D, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

McKeen's Brock Otten provides a detailed scouting report on 2024 NHL Draft prospect Ben Danford including video and grades.

www.mckeenshockey.com

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806881223945355506

 

[Kiwi]

Some nice tools.. seems like a very projectable pick.

Late riser?

From what I saw in the rankings I was hoping they’d pick a D if they moved back. Glad it’s a righty … fits a need so let’s cheer for this good old Canadian boy

Looks like he had a pretty productive playoffs and they had a deep run to (21 games)

 

[PromisedLand]

Someone I trust said we were going off the board, but I expected it to be elsewhere. Hoepfully it works out, they earned some leeway after Cowan, but seems more of a stay at home guy, and without stronger offensive game it's hard to be a top 4 guy.

Hoping he takes things personally like Cowan did when some called Cowan a bust

P.S.

 

[weems]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806881223945355506

I really like Brock Otten's prospect analysis.
He has posted on this site forever and always has a great read on OHL prospects.
He was actually interviewed earlier today on fan 590.

 

[TMLeafer]

We could use a no-nonsense shutdown d-man. Would be nice.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Did they not see anyone much better at 23. Why the trade.

I feel like maybe they wanted Hage but when he went they traded back

 

[notbias]

Some of you may be a little too excited over this clip.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1721653273222869493

 

[cyris]

Well not someone that was on my radar. At all. But Wes Clark has earned the benefit of the doubt with me so time to let the him develop and see if something is there

 

[Jacquestrapless]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806882920285495549

 

[shortfuze]

Why are they drafting 31st. I yhought they were drafting him n the low 20's

 

[The Podium]

2023-24 OHL coaches poll

 

[Thornbury]

Looks like he had a pretty productive playoffs and they had a deep run to (21 games)

Looks like he scored 4 goals, 10 points in 21 playoff games, after just 1 goal in the regular season. The Leafs like the late risers.

 

[PromisedLand]

Some nice tools.. seems like a very projectable pick.

Late riser?

From what I saw in the rankings I was hoping they’d pick a D if they moved back. Glad it’s a righty … fits a need so let’s cheer for this good old Canadian boy

according to some consensus was predicted to go anywhere between 30 and 50

hockey writers picked him to be 35th

https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/players/where-will-ben-danford-go-in-the-2024-nhl-draft

 

[SprDaVE]

Some of you may be a little too excited over this clip.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1721653273222869493

Dude what a shift lol

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Why are they drafting 31st. I yhought they were drafting him n the low 20's.

Trade w ducks

 

[SprDaVE]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806885870659604811

 

[DopeyFish]

Why are they drafting 31st. I yhought they were drafting him n the low 20's

they traded down to get a mid 2nd round pick

 

[Kiwi]

Looks like he scored 4 goals, 10 points in 21 playoff games, after just 1 goal in the regular season. The Leafs like the late risers.

I saw something about a strong second half to his season to

 

[stats1]

A RHD lol thank f*** for that if nothing else. I’ll give Wes the benefit of the doubt. He hit a grand slam with Cowan

 

[WillNy29]

I like this part of the scouting report.

View attachment 889073

I have a feeling this kid is about to do a Cowan type explosion next year and we're going to be sitting here scratching our heads like we did about Cowan. I'll give Wes Clark the leeway and I'll never be upset drafting guys who bleed blue and white. I'm fully on wait and see mode so i dont end up like those idiots who had to scrub their posts from the Cowan draft thread this year lol

 

[VanW27]

I really like Brock Otten's prospect analysis.
He has posted on this site forever and always has a great read on OHL prospects.
He was actually interviewed earlier today on fan 590.

There arent many guys who know more about an OHL prospect than Brock.

 

[dubey]

Why are they drafting 31st. I yhought they were drafting him n the low 20's

Marner accidently lost the pick

 

[TheDoldrums]

From the scouts that like him, he sounds a bit like John Marino