Toronto's injury issues went from bad to worse as Ben Danford has reportedly broken his wrist and will be out indefinitely.
On Monday afternoon, The Athletic's Joshua Kloke reported in an article that the Maple Leafs' top defensive prospect Ben Danford had suffered a broken wrist, and would be out indefinitely:
The Maple Leafs organization will be without one of their top prospects for the foreseeable future.
Ben Danford sustained a broken wrist during a Nov. 4 win over the Hamilton Hammers. Marlies head coach Steve Sullivan said the 2024 first-round draft pick is now considered week-to-week. Danford's injury came after he blocked a pass.
Danford is going to be evaluated week-to-week and is in the middle of his first pro season with the Marlies - a season he had be thriving in up until this point.
Danford, 21, has four points in 11 games this season, with a plus-5 rating and 13 PIM for the Toronto Marlies.
Maple Leafs' bad news continues with Danford update
Bad to worse is an understatement for Toronto right now as their injuries pile up and while Danford was not able to currently be a part of the team, it's a big setback for him nonetheless.
It's ironic that the reason he got hurt is the reason why he is so coveted and valued. Blocking a shot is just part of his game, and it's a cruel twist of fate that he suffered such a serious injury - on a pass no less.
But don't expect him to be back anytime soon, as a broken wrist is severely going to inhibit his ability to grip a stick let alone participate in full activities.
It's going to take a long time for him to get the strength and mobility back, and no level of elite training staff is going to simply magically accelerate things. It'll help but he's going to have to work hard at coming back.
For the Maple Leafs it's a sign that this team perhaps has a bit of a curse attached to their legacy, as the injuries continue to pile up and a blissful off-season has been thrust into a new reality.
Things are dire for the Maple Leafs right now, and Ben Danford's broken wrist is the icing on the cake.
Do you think Ben Danford will return for the Toronto Marlies this season?
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