The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Ben Danford with the 31st overall pick in the 2024-25 NHL Entry Draft. On Friday morning, they also announced that Danford has signed a three-year entry-level contract.

While it’s standard for recent draft picks to sign such contracts, some players, like Adam Fox of the New York Rangers, choose not to sign with their drafting teams and become free agents. However, Danford has committed to the Leafs and will join their training camp in September.

Danford was picked after the Leafs traded down from the 23rd pick. With no additional picks until the fourth round, GM Brad Treliving maneuvered to acquire extra selections. He traded the 23rd pick to Anaheim for the 31st and 58th picks, and then sent the 58th pick to Florida for a second-rounder next year and a seventh-rounder this year. This trade back allowed the Leafs to gain additional draft assets, a strategy that has mixed results historically but generally proves advantageous.

Evaluating Danford’s selection is tricky. At first glance, he might seem like a reach for the first round, especially as a defenseman who may only become a number-four defenseman. However, with Wes Clark making the pick and his track record of solid drafting, there’s reason to trust the choice. Past picks like Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten initially seemed questionable but have since shown promise.

There’s also some hype around Danford, with discussions suggesting he could be one of the most NHL-ready players in the draft and might make the team this October. As a long-time Leafs fan, I’ll remain skeptical until I see how he performs. Danford could turn out to be a strong pick, and perhaps his potential is higher than initially thought. At 18, his development remains to be seen.