Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign F Fraser Minten to ELC (3 years, $875k AAV) - Returned to Kamloops 2023-10-27

[Jeffrey Pedler]

I was too. Does the organization feel strongly about him? Like a first call up prospect? Perhaps they have high hopes for him in 2 years.

He's going back to the WHL, so I doubt he will be a callup. Robertson will probably be the first callup.

Mitten has some size and a good two way game. If he turns into a third line centre, great. If he shows signs of a second line centre, even better. When you continue to add prospects and insert them into the lineup instead of overpaying for someone, you're a good GM.

 

[ACC1224]

Weird he was on the bench for the player intro's last night. I don't recall them ever doing that in prior years.

 

[kb]

Weird he was on the bench for the player intro's last night. I don't recall them ever doing that in prior years.

AFAIK, he's still in TO receiving treatment for his injury. Could be mistaken though.

 

[Stephen]

The way the organization loves Minten kind of reminds me of Matt Stajan. Second round pick but such an organizational darling poised to make a rapid ascent up the depth chart.

 

[hockeynorth]

Huge progression from the young guy

 

[Stephen]

The way the organization loves Minten kind of reminds me of Matt Stajan. Second round pick but such an organizational darling poised to make a rapid ascent up the depth chart.

Wow and one calendar year later he makes the Leafs... just like Stajan in 2003-04 after being picked in 2002.

 

[Smif]

Wow and one calendar year later he makes the Leafs... just like Stajan in 2003-04 after being picked in 2002.

He made the team??

 

[Rob Brown]

He made the team??

haven't seen it announced either way. Same with Robertson, haven't seen it mentioned if he's been sent down or not.

 

[Stephen]

He made the team??

Actually now that I'm double checking I'm not sure. Saw some comments about it in the pre-season and Lafferty trade thread but nothing actually reported.

 

[Racer88]

Yeah, really gotta pace yourself. Can't use up all your disappointment in one game.

I’m saving some of mine for the usual playoff collapse lol

 

[diceman934]

Minten will be back in Jr this year and will play in the world Jr's as well. He is looking like a good NHL player at this point. He may get into a couple of games before he is sent down.

Robertson needs to play and if he starts to fit in we are going to have a decision on him by the trade deadline.

Congrats to Minten on his contract.

 

[ULF_55]

Made the team ... to start the season.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Is this farewell to Minton?

Is he gone?

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Is this farewell to Minton?

Is he gone?

Makes sense to send him to junior and have him play tons, he's gonna get less than 10 mins or pressbox with the Leafs

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

Makes sense to send him to junior and have him play tons, he's gonna get less than 10 mins or pressbox with the Leafs

People read too much into much into teams giving a prospect a game on two in the press box.

 

[horner]

People read too much into much into teams giving a prospect a game on two in the press box.

It's good for players to see what goes on
The smart one will pick little pointers

 

[Larcos_Unal]

It's good for players to see what goes on
The smart one will pick little pointers

Maybe in 1984 before there was a dozen camera angles for every single play having a kid in the press box may have been educational lol

 

[Gary Nylund]

Maybe in 1984 before there was a dozen camera angles for every single play having a kid in the press box may have been educational lol

Oh I dunno, I think there's some benefit to being there live and taking in the big picture for a couple of games.

 

[meefer]

Oh I dunno, I think there's some benefit to being there live and taking in the big picture for a couple of games.

Agreed. The kid can play 9 games, they don't have to be consecutive. Let him see the 'big picture' and determine if it helps him make the adjustments he needs to make. His play has been such a nice surprise. I don't think it matters if they eventually send him back to Junior, the overall experience should help him regardless. He's a smart, mature young man. I think he'll figure it out, be it this year or next.

 

[HellasLEAF]

Pontus is looking good. Might be on his way down at some point.

 

[Cecithepylon]

No harm in letting him get some more Whl time he’s going to be great soon.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

I think the Leafs are going to stagger his games until he gets to 9 then send him back in time to make the WJC. This way he gets his feet wet with a taste of pro coaching/training/competition for a few weeks and then goes back to junior hungry to make it back to the NHL with a better sense of what he needs to work on to make the roster permanently.

 

[Smif]

I think he'll go back to the Blazers, play in the WJC's and then get traded to a contender in the WHL at their trade deadline. Kamloops is one of the worst teams in the dub and a vet with NHL experience will fetch a large package.

 

[showtime8]

I think the Leafs are going to stagger his games until he gets to 9 then send him back in time to make the WJC. This way he gets his feet wet with a taste of pro coaching/training/competition for a few weeks and then goes back to junior hungry to make it back to the NHL with a better sense of what he needs to work on to make the roster permanently.

The issue that I have with this is that you're essentially keeping him here until mid December when they look at the WJC roster and there are about 16-18 games until you would want to send him back.

I think the best case for him is to send him back now and get in a bunch of games. The drop off between where his play was when he got out of the line-up and the next centre on the roster (Kampf or Holmberg) isn't that significant.

I think they keep him here until after the LA Kings game and send him back.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

The issue that I have with this is that you're essentially keeping him here until mid December when they look at the WJC roster and there are about 16-18 games until you would want to send him back.

I think the best case for him is to send him back now and get in a bunch of games. The drop off between where his play was when he got out of the line-up and the next centre on the roster (Kampf or Holmberg) isn't that significant.

I think they keep him here until after the LA Kings game and send him back.

I dont think they send him back until he gets his 9 games in imo.

How Maple Leafs' Minten is handling NHL road life and healthy scratches

Private jets, team dinners with established hockey superstars, five-star everything — Fraser Minten's first taste of NHL road life has been an eye-opening experience. But he's also watching the games from the press box. Luke Fox has more on how the 19-year-old forward is handling his new role...

www.sportsnet.ca

"You never know what [NHL life] is actually like until you experience it," Minten says. "Off-ice, development-wise, the gym stuff is great. Like, doing the same lifts as the strongest, best-conditioned hockey players in the world. So overall, it's really good."

The Maple Leafs development staff has tailored drills specifically for Minten, and he has all the ice time he needs to work on his craft. He's regularly the last one to leave the pad these days.

The staff is working with the centreman to learn systems and structure, with the objectives of quick zone exits and smooth entries a priority. Playing through NHL pace is an awakening.

"It moves really fast out there — that's the biggest thing. The time and space is just so minimal. You have to be thinking well ahead and moving your feet at all times and thinking at all times," Minten explains. "And if you get stuck in a corner, it's very hard to get out and make a play. And it's very hard to get back into the zone once you can't get out of it. So, everything's just harder, faster, stronger than what you'd expect coming from junior."