Signs Point to Roster Cut as Maple Leafs Scratch Top Prospect in Consecutive Games
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
With his second straight scratch in a preseason game, it seems like Maple Leafs prospect Ben Danford may be one of the team's future roster cuts in the coming days.
It's been quite a solid preseason for Ben Danford all things considered. He came in with a lot of promise and hasn't disappointed, offering a steady and solid presence on the back end and giving the team an indirect hand with Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
However he didn't appear in the last game against Montreal, and while it was nothing to be too concerned about, his absence in Saturday's contest is and could mean he's on the next line of roster cuts.
Why Consecutive Scratches Signal the Next Cut for Toronto's Blue Line
It's been a lot of the regular guys we'll see most nights, and Saturday's contest is no different with only Matt Benning taking Simon Benoit's place due to injury.
Otherwise, the other five are set and it could have been just a case of giving Danford just enough time to shine in order for the team to decide whether he goes back to Oshawa or ends up with the Marlies.
Danford had a strong OHL career with Oshawa, skating in 188 games and registering 79 points (10 goals, 69 assists), a plus-28 rating and 135 PIM and reached the OHL Championship in back to back seasons.
The likelihood of Danford making the team out of camp was slim, although the progress he made and impression he made on Craig Berube so far in the preseason does give him a strong edge over some in the future.
What This Roster Decision Means for the Leafs' Defensive Depth Chart
But it also signals that those who aren't currently lining up are likely also going to be cut and that means guys like William Villeneuve, Noah Chadwick, and Henry Thrun are starting in the AHL in October.
Toronto's defense is already set both contractually and in terms of leadership and unless one of these players completely explodes out of nowhere, the back line is set.
Nobody on the team can go to the Marlies, they are all on one-way deals obviously; so it's going to be much harder to earn a spot.
Having Benning in as one of the more regular depth players makes sense, much like Philippe Myers and Dakota Mermis, he has NHL experience and is more than capable of playing a tertiary role when called upon.
Toronto's defensive makeup for the Marlies is going to be drastically different than the senior team, with the majority of the team being young guys like Villeneuve and Chadwick.
But one who could find himself among their ranks is Ben Danford, and if he can keep on being a reliable shutdown defender then it won't be long before he earns the call to the Maple Leafs.
Though he's clearly going to be a big part of their future going forward.
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