At the conclusion of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs moved two of their prospects, one being rated in the top three in the organization.
As we watch former Toronto Maple Leafs second round pick Fraser Minten score a hattrick in his first week with the Providence Bruins and Nikita Grebenkin continued his charismatic personality in the Flyers organization, we are still left with some prospects making names for themselves.
Arguably the franchises most underrated prospect is 2024 first round selection Ben Danford who quietly put up an outstanding season with the Oshawa Generals. After serving his OHL club as the alternate captain during the 2023-24 year, he was handed the captaincy this past season. The Belleville, Ontario native was named the clubs top defenseman for the 2024-25 season after posting a junior career high in goals (5) while taking care of the back end.
Danford comes in the model of current Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo and Chris Tanev where you don't notice him all game because he quietly snuffs out plays. Last summer when he was interviewed by Jay Rosehill from Leafs Nation he even stated “One guy that I liked to compare myself during the whole draft process was Tanev actually,” Danford stated. “He can skate well and break out the puck and can block a lot of shots and play that style of game.”
Locking it down on the back end 🔒
— Oshawa Generals (@Oshawa_Generals) March 25, 2025
The winner of the 2025 Bobby Orr Defenceman of the Year is Ben Danford.#GensNation pic.twitter.com/2ebAseSGSy
Danford and his Oshawa Generals will now open up the first round of the playoffs Friday night against the Brampton Steelheads. The Generals will have home ice after finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference to the Steelheads fifth place finish.
Easton Cowan getting hot at the right time
After being selected in the first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Easton Cowan opened everyone's eyes at his first NHL training camp and proceeded to be absolutely dominant in his junior season winning nearly every individual award he could after a 96-point season.
Many thought he would build on those experiences and set records this past season, however, in an attempt to adapt the professional game to his current junior career he saw his numbers decline. Cowan collected just one goal and three points at a disappointing World Juniors and finished the OHL season with just 69-points. However, what is not shown in the numbers is the consistency in his game as he was held pointless in just three contests and rode out the ending of the season on a ten game point streak including ten goals and 25-points during that stretch.
Cowan and his Knights dominated the Ontario Hockey League as they not only have the top spot in the Western Conference, but led the league by outpacing the second place Kitchner Rangers by 12-points in the standings. Like Danford, Cowan will open up the playoffs on Friday against the Owen Sound Attack who finished 53-points behind them in the standings.
Sam McCue Becoming a late round steal
Sam McCue will avoid facing Cowan in the first round as he was traded by Owen Sound in January to the Flint Firebirds. After being traded, McCue who was a seventh round pick last summer recorded 18-goals in 20 games, which put him just four goals behind team leaders Kaden Pitre and Christopher Thibodeau who played 37 more games. In total, McCue finished the season with 36-goals in 55 games which ranked him 14th in the OHL.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have yet to sign the 6'2" winger, but with three contract spots available and Flint's playoff dreams likely going to be over quick as they have to take on the Kitchener Rangers in the first round there is the possibility he signs and fans get a chance to see him with the Marlies in the near future.