Ben Danford
He was the Leafs’ top pick at the 2024 draft, 31st overall from the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. Much like Easton Cowan the year before, Danford was a pick that seemed to come out of nowhere. He fit the mould of other players people speculated on the Leafs picking being a smart, defensively responsible right-shot defender.
This upcoming year, the spotlight will be on him and he will be expected to take a step offensively from his 33 points in 64 games last year. He also now had the pressure of being named the Generals' captain as they look poised to make a push for the OHL championship and Memorial cup.
Miroslav Holinka
Holinka was a fifth round pick by the Leafs in 2024 at 151st overall and was drafted by the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings in the import draft. He is playing in his first North American season and has started the season off well, scoring two goals and three assists through his first six games.
He turned heads at the Leafs' development camp and so far has not disappointed in his short time in North America. He is a right-shot centerman with two-way ability and high hockey IQ. Although not many fifth rounders make the NHL, there is promise in Holinka's game. In the short term, he can hopefully finish his rookie WHL campaign hovering around point-per-game.
Noah Chadwick
Chadwick was a sixth round pick by the Maple Leafs in 2023 and plays for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL, he is a big-bodied 6-3 207lbs left-shot defender. Last season, with the Hurricanes he took a big step scoring 12 goals and 56 points in 66 games. To start this year, he was named team captain and so far has one goal and six points assists through seven games.
One of the biggest knocks on him was his skating ability which he has taken some steps to improve. If he can continue to work on it and improve even more and if he can round out his game, he could be a decent player in the future.