Why Toronto Kept Ben Danford In The AHL

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller explained that 20-year-old defenseman Ben Danford was not recalled to the NHL roster despite injuries to Marshall Rifai and Nick Blankenburg, noting the team did not want to rush his development and chose more experienced options in Dakota Mermis and Cole McWard instead. Danford has played six games in the minors this year, recording three assists for the Marlies after missing one game with a lower-body injury.