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

[Skullz]

Interesting prospect. Lots to like here. RHD shot with size and really good skating as well as great defensively? That will play in the league. Just hope we can coax some more offence out of him.

Sounds like right hand shot TJ Brodie to me, albeit one that will actually hit. I like it

 

[Apex Predator]

Despite his offensive numbers Treliving thinks there’s more to his game. A lot see defensive dman but maybe they see him more of a two way player with some offense to him.

 

[Torontonian]

Toronto certainly has a certain style when drafting, good hockey sense and competitive, two things you cannot teach.

Seems like a good skating mobile D-man that can move the puck as well break up a play with his frame.

Have to see Toronto develop him properly now.

 

[Mess]

Interesting prospect. Lots to like here. RHD shot with size and really good skating as well as great defensively? That will play in the league. Just hope we can coax some more offence out of him.

Sounds like right hand shot TJ Brodie to me, albeit one that will actually hit. I like it

Ben Danford on the strengths/weaknesses of his game​

200-foot guy. I am a strong skater with a good hockey IQ. I compete hard. That is the main thing that headlines my strengths: I compete. I block shots. I’ll do anything for the team to win.

Offensively, I have some more steps to unlock there. That is something I have to work on. I feel like, with my hockey ability, hockey sense, and skating, it is definitely there.

 

[Duffman955]

Big, fast, agile, smart and mean defenseman

I like this

 

[colchar]

Someone I trust said we were going off the board, but I expected it to be elsewhere.

Oh yes, you know someone who is so tied in to the Leafs that he knows their draft strategy and he is just giving that info out to his buddies. Right.

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.

Oh yes, can't possibly be a top four guy if you're a defensive defenceman eh?

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Welcome to the mad house

 

[Rielly4]

He actually looks really smooth with the puck and clearly has offensive upside. He reminds me of Noah Dobson the way he handles it.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Maybe he can take some pointers on shooting from Rielly?
...
He skating looks good.
He has good size.
He is physical, and apparently mean.

 

[Puckstuff]

Defensive d-man can often take 6-7 years to develop so I doubt he will ever be anything until he's 25. He won't be apart of this core group IMO. But still a good pick for the future.

 

[Leaf Fans]

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.

They took the player at the top of their board. The BPA as they saw it.

 

[TimeZone]

Will be interesting to see how he develops, I'm pretty indifferent as things stand.

 

[Dion TheFluff]

Drafting for need but this guy won't be playing any time soon

we said the same thing about Cowan last year and now some are projecting him on the roster for next season... let's see how the kid develops

Defensive d-man can often take 6-7 years to develop so I doubt he will ever be anything until he's 25. He won't be apart of this core group IMO. But still a good pick for the future.

Brock Faber says high

 

[Dion TheFluff]

His profile reads very similarly to Brock Faber so we'll see where that goes. He has more poise with the puck and vision then what people are giving him credit for I think plus he is a plus skater, great and smart defender with a bit of an edge. Nothing not to like about this pick IMO

 

[PROUD PAPA]

So Ben Danford it is. I do like the idea of stocking up on D prospects and right handers in particular.
I’d be fine if we doubled down on RD with the 58th pick.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

Dickinson, Luchanko and Sennecke lead the way in Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects on-ice testing - Guelph Storm

OHL players Sam Dickinson, Jett Luchanko and Beckett Sennecke led the way in on-ice testing ahead of the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Moncton, NB.

chl.ca

30M Forward Skate with Puck
1 – Sam Dickinson (London Knights / OHL) — 3.902 seconds
2 – Nathan Villeneuve (Sudbury Wolves / OHL) — 3.984 seconds
3 – Jett Luchanko (Guelph Storm / OHL) — 3.985 seconds
4 – Eriks Mateiko (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL) — 4.051 seconds
5 – Ben Danford (Oshawa Generals / OHL) — 4.08 seconds

30M Backwards Skate
1 – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit / OHL) — 4.442 seconds
2 – Charlie Elick (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL) — 4.461 seconds
3 – Sam Dickinson (London Knights / OHL) — 4.482 seconds
4 – Beckett Sennecke (Oshawa Generals / OHL) — 4.614 seconds
5 – Ben Danford (Oshawa Generals / OHL) — 4.671 seconds

30M Backwards Skate with Puck
1 – Sam Dickinson (London Knights / OHL) — 4.551 seconds
2 – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit / OHL) — 4.603 seconds
3 – Beckett Sennecke (Oshawa Generals / OHL) — 4.625 seconds
3 – Jett Luchanko (Guelph Storm / OHL) — 4.625 seconds
5 – Ben Danford (Oshawa Generals / OHL) — 4.699 seconds

 

[Brown Dog]

Hope he probes me wrong but wow can't believe wwe didn't pick solberg... this is like konecny pick all over again lol

 

[Isaac Nootin]

From the OHL Coaches Poll for the 23/24 season.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

First round is certainly a reach for a player generally ranked late 2nd to early 3rd for sure, regardless of how you feel about the player.

Agreed just look at some of these rankings.

Oh wait...... Those were Easton Cowans ranking from last year.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

We found Knies, Cowan and Minten. Trust the scouts. Leafs have very high confidence in them right now and 2 players is better than 1 player picked slightly sooner

 

[horner]

I like this part of the scouting report.

View attachment 889073

The next Tanev
A player you need in the playoffs and the last 2 minutes of the game.

 

[613Leafer]

Type of player we need, and have needed for like 20 years. This team hasn't had a legit quality right shot dman since Kubina I don't think. Brodie was a quality left shot D that could play on the right, but otherwise we've had #5-6 guys playing in the top 4 (eg Franson, Liljegren, Holl, Polak, Schenn, Lybushkin, etc).

Who knows how he develops, but I think Wes Clark at this point has earned our trust.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

The next Tanev
A player you need in the playoffs and the last 2 minutes of the game.

Tanev is the player he reminds me most of. His skating test results are a bit of a relief since some reports had his skating as only "average to slightly above."

 

[GoonieFace]

All we can do is wait and see, or we can listen to people on this board who wouldn’t know him if he was in their shower with them