Toronto Maple Leafs' 2024 first round pick Ben Danford has a message for fans after signing first NHL contract 

As the start of the 2024-25 NHL season draws closer, the Toronto Maple Leafs' first round pick, Ben Danford, has a message for the die-hard fans of the team.

The 18-year-old was a highly discussed defenceman in the running to be picked up by big franchises, but the Maple Leafs landed him and have now signed Danford to a three-year entry-level contract.

Danford took to Instagram to thank his and the Maple Leafs' supporters. He captioned his post,

"I am honored to sign my first NHL contract with the @MapleLeafs,” Danford wrote. “Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way."

The 31st overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft has been impressive with the Oshawa Generals in the OHL, contributing 54 points in the past two seasons.

The addition of Chris Tanev will only help Danford's development as he will have an experienced player to learn from and hopefully achieve great things in the 2024-25 season.

---

Maple Leafs already added several players this year

The signing of Ben Danford is an important one for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they continue to prepare for the future.

With the list of players already acquired by the Maple Leafs including the likes of Chris Tanev from the Dallas Stars, they have strengthened their roster with players who could prove to be vital over the long run.

The Maple Leafs' haul this year also includes former Minnesota Wild centre Connor Dewar and defenceman Philippe Myers who they both signed to new one-year deals.

Another acquisition is AHL star Cedric Pare, who had a solid 2023-24 season with the Colorado Eagles where he contributed to 14 goals and 21 assists.

The addition of Ben Danford to this list of players is only going to increase the chances of the Maple Leafs contending for the Stanley Cup sooner rather than later.