Justin Danforth

Justin Danforth

32-Year-Old Right WingRW
Buffalo Sabres
IR
Injury Lower Body
Est. Return 12/27/2025
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Danforth has become a decent depth player in the NHL after playing college hockey at Sacred Heart University. The diminutive forward inked a two-year, $3.6 million contract with the Sabres in the offseason after registering nine goals, 21 points and 126 hits across 61 games with Columbus in 2024-25. The 32-year-old will fill a bottom-six role with his new club while adding some needed grit, though he won’t be relied upon much to produce offensively. Nevertheless, Danforth’s average ice time has increased in each of his first four years in the league, so if that trend continues in 2025-26, he could challenge for the 30-point and 150-hit marks. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a two-year, $3.6 million contract with the Sabres in July of 2025.
Placed on injured reserve
RWBuffalo Sabres
Lower Body
October 18, 2025
Danforth (lower body) was put on injured reserve Saturday, per the NHL media site.
ANALYSIS
Danforth left Wednesday's 8-4 win over Ottawa because of the injury, and he will be on the shelf for at least a month. The 32-year-old has no points, a minus-2 rating, two PIM, two shots, three hits and four blocks in four appearances this year. Mason Geertsen, who was a healthy scratch for two of Buffalo's opening four games, might play regularly on the fourth line while Danforth is unavailable.
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NHL Stats
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2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2025 NHL Game Log
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2024 NHL Game Log
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    14:23
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:24
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    1:40
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
13:23
1:52
0:36
2023–24
14:16
0:29
1:13
2024–25
14:23
0:24
1:40
2025–26
11:42
0:08
2:37
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Sabres Power Play Depth Chart
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
Danforth was a feel-good story last season, playing in a regular role at the NHL level for the first time in his age-30 season (he turned 31 on March 15). From a fantasy perspective, though, there's not much to talk about here. He had 10 goals, 26 points, 26 PIM and 109 hits in 71 outings with Columbus last season. Danforth is penciled in to serve on the Blue Jackets' third line in 2024-25, so he has the potential to put up similar numbers to his 2023-24 totals, but that's about as good as it's likely to get for him.
Danforth appeared in a half dozen games last season, potting a couple goals and adding an assist before suffering a shoulder injury in a late October contest against the Penguins which ended his year. He ended up undergoing surgery for a torn labrum, and although Danforth was back skating in February, he never returned in what was a lost season for Columbus. The good news is the 30-year-old should be fully healthy for training camp and ready to regain a job in the bottom six for the Blue Jackets, although that's not a gig that will lead to any sort of fantasy value.
More Fantasy News
Out more than a month
RWBuffalo Sabres
Lower Body
October 17, 2025
Per Heather Engel of NHL.com, Danforth (lower body) will miss more than one month, according to head coach Lindy Ruff on Friday.
ANALYSIS
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Exits Wednesday's game
RWBuffalo Sabres
Lower Body
October 15, 2025
Danforth (lower body) won't return to Wednesday's game versus the Senators.
ANALYSIS
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Secures two-year deal
RWBuffalo Sabres
July 1, 2025
Danforth signed a two-year, $3.6 million contract with Buffalo on Tuesday, Bob McKenzie of TSN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Goal-scorer's touch in win
RWColumbus Blue Jackets
April 8, 2025
Danforth had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over the Senators on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
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Lights lamp Friday
RWColumbus Blue Jackets
March 21, 2025
Danforth scored a goal on three shots in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Penguins.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Hoping to stay with Columbus
RWFree Agent
July 1, 2025
Danforth and the Blue Jackets continue to work on a new deal ahead of the opening of free agency Tuesday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Danforth was limited to just 61 regular-season games for the Jackets last year but still managed to reach the 20-point threshold for the second straight year. If he can stay healthy and in the lineup, the 32-year-old winger could challenge for the 30-point threshold this year. Combined with his physicality -- he racked up 126 hits last year -- Danforth should offer decent mid-range fantasy value in most formats.
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