‘Canines purchase Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ben Danford and Zackary Sandhu
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The Brantford Bulldogs have made the primary blockbuster commerce of the OHL season.
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Rumours circulating Wednesday evening got here true on Thursday because the Bulldogs introduced that they had acquired Oshawa Generals defencemen Ben Danford and Zackary Sandhu.
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In alternate, Brantford is sending Lucas Moore, Aiden O’Donnell, Luca Diplacido and 9 draft picks to the Generals. The picks embrace three second-rounders (2026, Ottawa; 2027, Kingston; 2028, Oshawa), three third-rounders (2028, Sudbury; 2029, Guelph; 2029, Brampton), two fourth-rounders (2026, Brantford; 2020, Brantford) and one tenth rounder (2027, Barrie).
“We’re extraordinarily excited to accumulate Ben Danford and Zach Sandhu,” Bulldogs normal supervisor Spencer Hyman acknowledged in a launch.
“We’ve seen each gamers a ton over the previous two seasons – by numerous battles and a full playoff sequence – and we all know firsthand the affect they will have. Each Ben and Zach have been to back-to-back OHL Finals and so they convey with them a championship mindset and an understanding of what it takes to win.”
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Danford was Oshawa’s captain and a 2024 first-round decide (thirty first total) of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 19-year-old, who has signed with the Maple Leafs, is a premier shutdown defenceman who has 11 objectives and 72 assists in 196 OHL video games.
Sandhu, who will flip 20 in December, is in his fifth yr within the OHL. He has 14 objectives and 32 assists in 189 video games and is understood for his sandpaper play.
“Ben is a pacesetter and one of many premier defencemen in the complete CHL,” Hyman added. “Zach is a hard-nosed, clever defender who performs with poise and depth. These are two gamers we focused instantly, and their addition provides our blue line the power to play greater, heavier and adapt to any fashion required to win hockey video games.
“We’re completely thrilled to welcome each Ben and Zach to the Bulldogs group.”
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Hyman mentioned it was a troublesome choice to half with Moore and O’Donnell.
“I’ve been round junior hockey my total life and there has not been a more durable choice for me than shifting Lucas Moore,” he mentioned.
“Lucas is the definition of a Bulldog. We have now the utmost respect for him each as a participant and as a human being. We want Lucas all the perfect as he takes on a brand new alternative to play greater minutes and proceed growing his recreation for the subsequent degree.”.
O’Donnell was not too long ago named to NHL Central Scouting’s October Gamers to Watch Record for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
“We consider Aiden O’Donnell is an incredible younger participant with a vivid future forward of him,” Hyman mentioned.
“On this course of, we acknowledged that to accumulate an incredible veteran participant, you typically must half with an incredible younger one. We’re unhappy to see Aiden go away, however we’re extraordinarily grateful for his exhausting work, dedication and contributions throughout his time as a Bulldog.
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“We want him continued success within the subsequent chapter of his profession.”
This transfer, coupled with others the crew made within the low season, is a transparent indication that the Bulldogs are all in as they chase a Memorial Cup championship.
And Brantford is probably not achieved but.
Rumours have been circulating Thursday morning that prized Guelph Storm ahead Jett Luchanko was on his approach to the Windsor Spitfires. Nevertheless, nothing has materialized from that.
The Bulldogs have lengthy been rumoured to have their eyes on the Philadelphia Flyers prospect and so they nonetheless have some draft capital left to make a transfer. Brantford has six second-round draft picks and a 3rd that they might ship in a commerce.
With the addition of Danford, Brantford now boasts 4 NHL drafted gamers on defence (Danford, Adam Jiricek, Owen Protz and Edison Engle), 5 at ahead (Jake O’Brien, Marek Vanacker, Adan Benak, Sam McCue and Parker Holmes) and one in aim (Ryerson Leenders).
The crew additionally has extremely ranked 2026 draft eligible gamers Caleb Malhotra, Layne Gallacher and Vladimir Dravecky of their lineup.
Brantford (11-0-2-1) is the No. 1 ranked crew within the OHL and CHL and is the one crew within the CHL that doesn’t have a loss in regulation.
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