Toronto Maple Leafs defence prospect Ben Danford is out with a broken wrist and is considered week-to-week, Toronto Marlies head coach Steve Sullivan told reporters, according to Sportsnet.

The 20-year-old suffered the injury while blocking a pass during the Marlies’ Nov. 4 win over the Hamilton Hammers. His absence interrupts his first full American Hockey League season, in which he has been playing top-pair minutes and has recorded four assists in 11 games.

Danford was selected 31st overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2024 NHL Draft. He joined the Marlies for their 2026 Calder Cup-winning playoff run, contributing a goal and two assists before taking on a larger role this season.

Before the injury, Sullivan described a substantial workload for the young defenceman.

“(Danford) is playing 25-plus minutes a night,” Sullivan said, according to The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke, as cited by Sportsnet. “So the reps that he’s getting are outstanding. He’s progressing as we would hope to.”

Danford completed his Ontario Hockey League career last season after four years split between the Oshawa Generals and Brantford Bulldogs. He finished with 99 points in 233 regular-season games and another 19 points in 60 playoff appearances.

Sources