Maple Leafs Top Prospect Shatters Expectations at World Junior Showcase
Photo credit: NHL.com
The World Junior Summer Showcase is in full swing, and Maple Leafs top prospect Ben Danford is shattering expectations, truly proving how good of a player he can be.
Defensive prospect Ben Danford is the only Maple Leafs player invited to the annual showcase, where Canada’s World Junior staff will get their first look at what their team might look like for the 2026 World Juniors, which will also take place in Minnesota in December.
Danford is being called the best player at the World Juniors Summer Showcase
Danford has been exceeding expectations, and one source revealed that he has been the best player at the World Junior Showcase so far. The source said Danford is steady, smart, and hard to ignore on the ice.
“Ben Danford has been the best player at the World Junior Showcase he’s steady, smart, and impossible to ignore. Makes every shift count, whether he’s breaking up plays or starting the rush. Canada’s blue line is in good hands.”
– An unnamed source
The Maple Leafs selected Danford with their first pick (31st overall) at the 2024 NHL Draft.
During his visit to Toronto’s development camp earlier this month, the defender revealed that he’s receiving mentorship from current Leafs defensemen as well as some alumni like Mark Giordano.
The 6-foot-2 Danford could make for an excellent fit for Canada should he make the team.
He is responsible in his own end, and he demonstrated leadership capabilities when he was named captain of the Oshawa Generals ahead of the 2024-25 OHL season.
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