Maple Leafs defense prospect Ben Danford was hurt in practice Thursday, but Adam Proteau says it's impossible to bubble-wrap prospects as they try to establish themselves.
Ben Danford was Toronto's first-round pick at the 2024 NHL draft in Las Vegas.The issue of how teams protect their players in pre-season camps arose again on Thursday, but there's a simple answer to any concerns.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' 2024 first-round draft pick, Ben Danford, suffered an injury in practice Thursday. He left the ice after taking a hit from rookie showdown invitee Marshall Finnie.
Although Toronto Marlies coach John Gruden told reporters the injury was still being investigated, it became another discussion topic.
Specifically, the question will be asked: why does Danford – the Leafs’ 31st-overall pick this summer – risk injury against someone like Finnie (all due respect), who has their competitive motor in full gear to earn a pro contract?
This isn’t to say Danford should be treated with kid gloves, but Danford has a much larger landing strip to prove he belongs at the top level of the sport. And Finnie does not. Perhaps there’s a solution where Toronto’s upper-tier prospects compete against one another, and fringe players like Finnie play against each other in different scrimmages.
But let's face it. It's hockey. It's sport.
Many will note hockey is a heavy-contact game, and short of covering top prospects in bubble wrap, there’s no way to guarantee the health of players, especially ones who aren’t assured of an NHL roster spot.
Gruden noted that Finnie felt bad after the collision with Danford, but what’s done cannot be undone, and Danford’s development has to take a back seat to his health, even if it was just for Thursday.
Injuries are an unfortunate part of hockey, but there’s a chance of being hurt every time a player touches the ice. Danford is a prized asset for the Leafs, but similar circumstances haunt many, if not most, players as they battle to make a name for themselves. It’s an easier road to the NHL for Danford than for Finnie, but it’s not as if Finnie will be blackballed from the Leafs or any other team that might see value in him.
When the stakes are high, emotions and performance levels will rise accordingly, and that should go for any prospect. While it may hurt to hear it, this type of thing comes with the territory. Danford may miss only a little bit of time, or, in a worst-case scenario, this injury could sideline him for the rest of Toronto’s rookie camp or longer.
But the stark truth is that injury could’ve happened anywhere at any time, and the reality is the Leafs have to grit their teeth and bear it.
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