2024 Toronto Maple Leafs first-rounder Ben Danford was selected by Hockey Canada as one of a dozen defensemen for the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase, starting on Sunday in Minneapolis, MN. The 6’2”, 195 lb. blueliner had 25 points (5 goals, 20 assists) for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL and is one of six right-handed shooters to be chosen. The 19-year-old is considered one of the best prospects in the Leafs organization and has a good chance of playing for Canada this December as a solid, responsible shutdown defender.
The tournament features players from the United States, Finland, and Sweden, with a round-robin schedule spanning the next six days. Another Leafs prospect, Swedish defenseman Victor Johansson, is participating. The 19-year-old scored 39 points (seven goals, 32 assists) and 113 penalty minutes in 47 games with the Leksands Jr.-level club and played five SHL games last season.
Tournament Schedule
Game Schedule
Timmins Signs Extension With Sabres
Former Leaf defenseman Conor Timmins avoided salary arbitration, signing a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension with the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. The 26-year-old was dealt by Toronto along with Connor Dewar to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline for a 2025 fifth-round pick, and had 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in 68 games.
On the second day of the draft, the Penguins shipped him to Buffalo for veteran Connor Clifton and a 2025 second-round pick. Timmins, who played 151 games with the Leafs over three seasons, doubled his 2024-25 salary with the new deal, as the Sabres bought a year of unrestricted free agency away.
