Maple Leafs first-round pick suffers head injury after scary hit during rookie camp

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Axel Williams
September 12, 2024 (2:48 PM)

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With the 31st overall pick in the NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs took Ben Danford, a right-handed defenseman from the Oshawa Generals.

Thanks to his 33 points in 64 games campaign last season, the Maple Leafs felt like Danford was actually a bit of a steal. He fell in their lap and they took him without any hesitation.

Today, the 18-year-old was looking to make a name for himself at Leafs Rookie Camp. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave practice early with a head injury. He was checked hard into the boards by Marshall Finnie, and Danford was left on the ground. He eventually got checked out on the bench and was told to leave. Now, his status remains up in the air.

It remains to be seen what will happen with Danford. At 18 years old, it is unlikely for him to make the Leafs roster. Ultimately, he will likely go back to Oshawa for more development. Regardless, he is a solid player and we hope he is okay and is able to get back onto the ice. You always hate to see hits to the head, especially in training camp.

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Source: HockeyDB
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