Maple Leafs' Ben Danford Praises Fellow Toronto Pick Victor Johansson On Growth Over Last Year

Victor Johansson got the upper hand on fellow Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Ben Danford at the World Junior Summer Showcase this week.

The two players went head-to-head on Friday as Sweden took on Canada during the second-last day of the camp. The Canadians fell 2-0 early in the first period and were unable to claw their way back, falling to the Swedes 8-4.

Johansson, whom the Maple Leafs selected with their fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, got on the board during the second period of Friday’s game against Canada. It was his first point of the mini-tournament, which concludes on Saturday.

“I didn’t see much, actually. It was a rocket,” Johansson smiled when telling TSN’s Mark Masters about his goal vs. Canada. “I was a little bit shocked when I saw it go in, actually. Just trying to shoot as hard as I could, and great screen by Jack Berglund on the goalie and it went in.”

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Johansson and Danford are two of Toronto’s top picks from the 2024 NHL Draft. Danford was the Maple Leafs’ top pick, being selected in the first round (31st overall), and Johansson was picked a few rounds later.

“Vic looked really good. Poised with the puck, making some really nice plays. He had that goal, I think he got credit for that one,” Danford told Masters. “Since when I first saw him when we both got drafted last year’s development camp, he’s come a long way already. I can’t wait to see where he goes.”

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Johansson is expected to play a larger role with the SHL’s Leksands next season after playing five games with the club — and the rest with their junior squad — last season. Danford is set to return to the OHL’s Oshawa Generals after Maple Leafs training camp with the hope that he returns to Canada’s roster for the World Juniors in December.

“I feel I’ve been solid. Just trying to put my best foot forward and show what I got at the summer showcase,” Danford told Masters of his performance at the Summer Showcase this week. “Try to help the team win, blocking shots, sacrificing my body, all that. Just putting my best foot forward.”

“He’s a strong defensive D,” added Canada head coach Dale Hunter. “He blocks shots and he plays hard, he plays strong in front of his net, and that’s what we expect from him.”

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The Summer Showcase comes to a close on Saturday with Sweden taking on Finland and Canada facing the United States later in the afternoon. The World Juniors begin on Boxing Day in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Maple Leafs' Ben Danford Praises Fellow Toronto Pick Victor Johansson On Growth Over Last Year

(Top photo of Johansson: TSN.ca)