7. Ben Danford
Age: 18
Height/Weight: 6'2",193 LBS.
Position: Defense
Shoots: Right
Draft: 1st Round, 31st Overall 2021
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted a stay-at-home defenseman with a first round pick, and that is enough to make me want to bang my head into a wall. This isn't exactly as dumb as drafting a fourth liner like Freddie Gauthier with a first round pick, but it's in the same ballpark.
The low ceiling of a player like Danford pretty much makes it a waste of a pick. He likely tops out as a 3rd pairing defender, if he makes the NHL at all. He probably has a higher chance of making the NHL, due to his size and pedigree as an OHL captain, but he isn't ever going to be a star.
Unless....
Unless he develops more offense to his game and can get his puck moving abilities up to NHL level, which is toally possible, and the reason he is on this list.
If Danford develops an offensive game, he might be a quality top-four NHL defenseman. The Athletic ranked his skating as NHL average and his puck skills below average. Unless Danford can improve a lot, this pick is going to be a waste. Sure, every team needs big defenseman, but ones that can't score or move the puck are a dime a dozen
The best thing Danford has going for him is being drafted by Wes Clark who has earned the benefit of the doubt by drafting players like Robertson and Knies, as well as recent picks Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten.