With their first pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs chose to bolster their blue line with one of the best defensive defencemen in the 2024 NHL Draft.
First Round
31: Ben Danford, D, Oshawa Generals
Age: 18
Hand: Right
Height: Six-foot-one
Weight: 194 pounds
Hometown: Madoc, Ont.
2023-24 stats: 1 goal, 32 assists in 64 games; 4 goals, 6 assists in 21 playoff games
Fourth Round
120: Victor Johansson, D, Leksands IF (SHL)
Age: 18
Hand: Left
Height: Six-foot-one
Weight: 159 pounds
Hometown: Linkoping, Sweden
2023-24 stats: 2 goals, 6 assists in 34 games; 0 goals, 1 assist in 5 playoff games
Fifth Round
151: Miroslav Holinka, C, Trinec Ocelari (Czechia)
Age: 18
Hand: Right
Height: Six-foot-one
Weight: 187 pounds
Hometown: Kromeriz, Czechia
2023-24 stats: 20 goals, 21 assists in 29 games with U20 team; 6 goals, 8 assists in 15 playoff games with U20 team
152: Alexander Plesovskikh, F, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)
Age: 17
Hand: Right
Height: Six-foot-two
Weight: 174 pounds
Hometown: Tyumen, Russia
2023-24 stats: 8 goals, 9 assists in 33 games; 0 goals, 1 assist in 6 playoff games
157: Timofei Obvintsev, G, CSKA (MHL)
Age: 19
Hand: Right
Height: Six-foot-three
Weight: 179 pounds
Hometown: Yekaterinburg, Russia
2023-24 stats: 2.96 GAA, .921 save percentage in 16 games; 3.07 GAA, .908 save percentage in 2 playoff games
Seventh Round
200: Matt Lahey, D, Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL)
Age: 17
Hand: Left
Height: Six-foot-five
Weight: 203 pounds
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
2023-24 stats: 2 goals, 17 points in 54 games; 0 goals, 0 assists in 5 playoff games
216: Sam McCue, F, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Age: 18
Hand: Left
Height: Six-foot-two
Weight: 187 pounds
Hometown: Sudbury, Ont.
2023-24 stats: 12 goals, 9 assists in 34 games; 0 goals, 1 assist in 4 playoff games
216: Nathan Mayes, D, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Age: 18
Hand: Left
Height: Six-foot-three
Weight: 170 pounds
Hometown: Salmon Arm, B.C.
2023-24 stats: 1 goal, 15 assists in 68 games; 0 goals, 0 assists in 4 playoff games