JUSTIN DANFORTH #15

Notes accurate as of Sept. 1, 2026

PRONUNCIATION: DAN-fohrth, JUHS-tihn

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2026-27 ($1.8 million AAV)

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by Columbus as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2021; Signed by Buffalo as an unrestricted free agent on July 2, 2025.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • Tallied 59 points (28+31) in 44 games with the Cincinnati Cyclones in 2017-18 and was named the ECHL Rookie of the Year, to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and the ECHL All-Star Game.
  • Ranked second among all Cyclones skaters in goals and points in 2017-18.
  • Served as an alternate captain with Lukko (Liiga) in 2019-20 and registered 60 points (27+33) in 57 games. Earned the Lasse Oksanen Award as Liiga’s best regular-season player and the Veli-Pekka Ketola Trophy as the league’s top point scorer.
  • Made his NHL debut with Columbus on Nov. 15, 2021 vs. Detroit.
  • Recorded his first NHL goal on Nov. 18, 2021 at Arizona.
  • Notched his first NHL assist on Dec. 4, 2021 at Washington.
  • Appeared in the 100th game of his NHL career on Jan. 28, 2024 at Seattle.
  • Made his Sabres debut on Oct. 9, 2025 vs. NY Rangers and skated in four games with Buffalo in 2025-26.

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • Played in 147 games with Sacred Heart University from 2013 to 2017 and registered 124 points (42+82) in that span.
  • Was named to the AHA (NCAA) All-Rookie Team and named the AHA Rookie of the Year in 2013-14 after posting 29 points (5+24) in 36 games with Sacred Heart.
  • Recorded 41 points (20+21) in 36 games with Sacred Heart in 2015-16 and was named to the AHA Second All-Conference Team.
  • Selected to the AHA First All-Star team in 2016-17 after recording 32 points (10+22) in 37 games as an alternate captain.

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • Appeared in nine games with Team Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championships en route to a gold medal.

NHL FIRSTS

Game: 11/15/21 vs DET

Goal: 11/18/21 at ARI

Assist: 12/4/21 at WSH

AWARDS & HONORS

Professional:

2017-18 ECHL All-Rookie Team

2018 ECHL All-Star Game

2017-18 ECHL Rookie of the Year (John A. Daley Trophy)

2017-18 ECHL Second All-Star Team

2019-20 Liiga All-Star Team

2019-20 Liiga Best Player of Regular Season (Lasse Oksanen Award)

2019-20 Liiga Golden Helmet

2019-20 Liiga Most Points (Veli-Pekka Ketola Trophy)

2020 Liiga Player of the Month (February)

2021 KHL Forward of the Month (October)

International:

2021 IIHF World Championship Gold Medal

Amateur:

2013-14 NCAA (AHA) All-Rookie Team

2013-14NCAA (AHA) Rookie of the Year

2015-16 NCAA (AHA) Second All-Conference Team

2016-17 NCAA (AHA) First All-Star Team