Watch: Maple Leafs' 1st-Round Pick Leaves Scrimmage With Head Injury

Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2024 first-round pick Ben Danford suffered an injury during a rookie camp scrimmage on September 12, leaving the ice after a hit that saw him go straight to the locker room.

The injury was first reported by Leafs insider Mark Masters, who shared clips of the play on social media, confirming that Danford had left due to a possible head injury.

"Leafs first-round pick Ben Danford leaves Leafs rookie camp scrimmage after taking a big hit," Masters reported on X .

In a separate message posted on X shortly after the initial report, Masters quoted Toronto Marlies coach John Gruden speaking about Danford's status.

"He's being evaluated right now," Gruden told Masters. "Hopefully he'll be OK." Regarding Marshall Finnie, the injury perpetrator who hit Danford in the head, the coach said he "didn't get a good look at the hit," adding Finnie "feels bad and hopefully Danford's OK."

A former No. 31 draft pick in the 2024 NHL draft, Danford, 18, was selected by the Maple Leafs with high hopes to become a staple of the franchise's blue line in the future thanks to his combination of size and skill,

The teenager notched 33 points for the Oshawa Generals last season, drawing attention for his offensive upside from the blue line as an offensive-defenseman.

This development is particularly concerning given Danford’s importance to the Leafs' long-term plans and the worrying nature of head hits and injuries, let alone concussions in the event this caused one.

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