Maple Leafs prospect Ben Danford happy to have Chris Tanev as guide
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Chris Tanev’s defensive ways are rubbing off on Ben Danford.
The Maple Leafs’ first-round pick in 2024, Danford has been training at the Leafs’ facility at the Ford Performance Centre and has been taking mental notes whenever Tanev is around.
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“He has been phenomenal,” Danford said on Thursday. “I’ve looked up to him for quite a few years now. I feel like that’s someone that I can really learn off, and someone that hopefully someday I’m even close to what he is in the NHL. He’s just a rock-solid defenceman.”
After the Leafs picked Danford 31st overall a year ago, he returned to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League and was named captain in October. The 19-year-old Belleville native had a strong season and in the annual OHL coaches poll, was voted best defensive defenceman and best shot blocker in the Eastern Conference.
“Ben has just continued to improve,” said Leafs assistant general manager, player development, Hayley Wickenheiser.
“The thing I’ve noticed is his game is starting to calm down. He’s a great skater. He moves as well as anyone on the ice here.
“Sometimes he tries to do too much when he plays in the OHL with Oshawa, and we’ve been talking to him a lot about taking the time to play calm, getting inside lanes, to block shots.
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“He spent a little bit of time with Tanev this summer already, and I think that’s a big influence on him.”
Danford will continue to soak it all in once development camp is done.
“You see guys in the gym at the NHL level, or even on the ice, how powerful they are,” Danford said. “The way they can move and how strong they are on pucks. That’s a really big eye opener. I feel like that’s something that I can really get better at.”
Meanwhile, Tinus Luc Koblar, the Leafs’ second-round pick this year, poured cold water on the idea he will play in the OHL next season. Koblar was picked by the Brampton Steelheads in the Canadian Hockey League import draft on Wednesday.
“I don’t think so,” Koblar said. “I think I’m staying in Sweden and playing there (with Leksand).”
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