The pick landed in Toronto following a sequence of trades. The 6'1" defenseman from the OHL showed evident excitement upon being selected by the Leafs, proceeding to shake hands with several key members of the team's leadership, including Brad Treliving and Craig Berube.
Notably, he bypassed shaking hands with Gary Bettman, sparking fan support and attention league-wide.
Fans' reaction is precisely as anticipated. After all, Gary Bettman has become one of the least popular figures in the sport. Danford tallied one goal and 33 points in 64 games with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL.
He followed that with four goals and 10 points in 21 playoff games. Expected to be selected in the second to third round, this pick will likely be perceived as a reach by many. Fortunately, he is already demonstrating why the Leafs chose him.
