Ben Danford will be the Toronto Maple Leafs’ lone representative at the 2025 NHLPA Rookie Showcase that will take place at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex on September 3rd.
Full list below: pic.twitter.com/7w8qU5Yxng
— Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) August 26, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
He will get to share the ice with the likes of Matthew Schaefer, Sam Dickinson, Zayne Parekh, David Reinbacher, and Tij Iginla, among many other high-profile prospects invited to the event.
This is another feather in Danford’s cap for what has been an eventful offseason so far. He was among the standouts at the 2025 Rookie Development Camp and was invited to Hockey Canada’s summer camp in preparation for a potential spot on the 2026 World Juniors roster.
Danford has said he is trying to model his game after Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev, which will surely get some fans excited given how well the latter did on the defensive side of things in his first year with the team.
“I’ve already got to see him this summer. He’s been phenomenal, I’ve looked up to him for quite a few years now,” he said to reporters on July 4. “I feel like that’s someone that I can really learn off of, and someone that hopefully I am even close to what he is in the NHL someday. He’s just that rock Solid. D-man that can contribute offence as well.”
Danford was selected 31st overall in the 2024 NHL draft from the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. At 6-foot-2 and 194 lb., the 19-year-old is known as a true defensive defender who brings leadership skills with him as well. Danford was named captain of the Generals and went on to record five goals and 25 points in 61 OHL games during the regular season. He followed that up with two goals and five points in 21 playoff games before losing to Easton Cowan and the London Knights in the OHL final for the second consecutive season.
He has been working hard this summer in preparation for his final OHL season, and it makes sense given he has a shot at making Canada’s roster at the World Juniors. His invitation to the 2025 NHLPA Rookie Showcase is proof that those in hockey are taking notice of his progress.
PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST
