Maple Leafs Prospect Roundup: Danford’s game reborn in Brantford, Nansi turns up the heat in Owen Sound

Danford’s defensive play has remained a staple of his game, but there was some concern when he went in the opposite direction from an offensive standpoint in his post-draft season. After recording 33 points in 64 games in 2023-24, he managed just 25 points in 61 games the following year. However, his leadership qualities were evident from the start: He was named captain of the Generals prior to last season and did his best to lead one of the worst teams in the league.

The contrast between Danford’s performance with the Generals and the Bulldogs tells a story about how difficult it is to perform on a bad team versus a good team. The Generals are ranked second to last in the OHL at time of filing with a record of 5-14-0. The bulldogs? First place in the OHL and still not lost in regulation as they approach their 20th regular season game (15-0-4). Danford turns 20 in February and it’s essentially a given that he’ll start with the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL) next season, so he’s well prepared to go for a Memorial Cup in his final year of junior hockey.

Here are some other notes from the Maple Leafs prospect pool.

• Harry Nansi is doing everything he can to get the Maple Leafs and their fans to pay attention to him. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Maple Leafs, the Owen Sound Attack forward was one of the youngest players in the draft class (he just turned 18 on September 10) and has taken a huge step forward in his post-draft season. After finishing with 23 points in 67 games last season, he has already scored an impressive 30 points in 20 games in 2025-26. He had an absurd eight points in three games last week, including a five-point night against the Erie Otters that earned him OHL Player of the Week honors. The 6-foot-4 forward still has some kinks in his game, but it’s safe to say the Leafs are more than happy with the output they’ve gotten from him.

• Easton Cowan is officially a Toronto Marlie after spending the first month of the season skating with the Maple Leafs. He was a victim of the Maple Leafs having too many forwards, but introducing your 20-year-old top prospect to professional hockey in the AHL isn’t the worst thing either. Cowan scored his first NHL goal against the Philadelphia Flyers shortly before being ejected, and he has one assist in two games so far.
• Speaking of CHL prospects for good teams, forward Miroslav Holinka continues to build on his strong second season with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings. The Oil Kings sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 14-4-1 record, thanks in large part to Holinka’s nine-goal, 23-point performance in 17 games to date. He had back-to-back four- and three-point performances last weekend and notched an assist in his most recent game.
• Some brief comments about the Marlies that are currently flourishing the most. Signed in the spring as an undrafted CHL player, Borya Valis has been perhaps the biggest pleasant surprise yet with six goals and eight points in 12 games for the Marlies. NCAA signing Jacob Quillan also currently leads the team with 12 points in 12 games, and on the back end they are led by Henry Thrun and William Villeneuve, who each have seven points in 12 games for the Marlies.

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