Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Danford’s Patience, Borgesi’s Chance & Future Blueliners – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have reshaped much of their NHL roster over the past year, but some of the most interesting stories heading into training camp may not be about the veterans. Instead, there are two young defensemen who could become part of the organization’s future.
Toronto doesn’t need either Ben Danford or Vinny Borgesi to make an immediate impact this season. That’s actually one of the organization’s strengths right now. The Maple Leafs have enough experience on the blue line to let both players develop at the proper pace. That doesn’t mean they won’t play a role somewhere in the organization this season. It simply means they’ll have the chance to earn it rather than being rushed before they’re ready.
Ben Danford’s Next Step Might Be Exactly What Toronto Needs
Ben Danford continues to look like one of the Maple Leafs’ most promising defensive prospects. He’s never been the type of player who fills the scoresheet, but that’s never been why the organization is so high on him. Instead, he earns trust by making smart decisions, defending well, and consistently playing reliable hockey. Winning a Calder Cup only reinforced the belief that he’s progressing exactly as the organization hoped.
The best development plan is probably the simplest one. Danford should begin the season with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he’ll likely play top-pairing minutes against the opposition’s best players. That experience is invaluable for a young defenseman. If injuries create an opening on the Maple Leafs’ right side or Danford forces the issue with an outstanding training camp, a midseason call-up wouldn’t be surprising.
But the Maple Leafs don’t need to rush the process. If veteran Chris Tanev returns healthy after an injury-plagued season, and with Troy Stecher also in the mix, Toronto should have plenty of time to let Danford develop naturally. He can continue building toward becoming a long-term shutdown defender, but there may not be any push to get him NHL minutes this season.
Vinny Borgesi Has a Chance to Surprise This Season
Vinny Borgesi may not receive the same attention as some of Toronto’s higher-profile prospects, but he should become one of the more interesting players to watch. Signed out of Northeastern University as an undrafted free agent, Borgesi already received a brief introduction to professional hockey by appearing in seven games for the Marlies after his college season ended.
At just 5-foot-8, Borgesi faces obvious challenges, but his skating, hockey IQ, and ability to move the puck give him a skill set that isn’t easy to find. The competition for ice time on the Marlies’ blue line will be intense, meaning every shift will have to be earned.
If he can show he can defend effectively despite his size while continuing to drive play with his mobility, he could move himself onto the Maple Leafs’ radar much faster than many expect. Players like Borgesi remind fans that NHL contributors don’t always arrive as first-round draft picks.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
One thing that stands out about Toronto’s prospect pool is its growing depth on defence. The organization no longer has to force young players into NHL roles simply because there aren’t better options. That’s a healthy place for any franchise to be. Development can happen naturally, with players earning promotions instead of being handed them.
Danford and Borgesi may take very different paths over the next year, but both represent something encouraging for the Maple Leafs. Danford looks every bit like a future shutdown defenseman who can eventually play important NHL minutes. Borgesi is going to have a fight on his hands to take the next step. But he has the chance to become one of those under-the-radar success stories every organization hopes to uncover.
Whether either player becomes a regular in a Maple Leafs sweater this season remains to be seen, but both are worth watching as the Maple Leafs continue building for both the present and the future.
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