Prospect Info: Marlies & Prospect Discussion

[Jimmy Firecracker]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853190288048873565

 

[Community]

If you havnt been watching the Marlies lately I dont think you are in a position to say Niemela “hasn’t been able to grow his game at all” I’ve noticed him making a lot of smart plays and exiting the zone well. Hes also gotten stronger.

Not able to grow his game at all is an exaggeration and not exactly what I meant. I was asking because a few years ago it was expected he'd be pushing for an NHL spot around now (or as early as last year) and he hasn't even gotten a sniff.

Anyways, from posters in here it seems like he's steadily improving in other facets. Seems like maybe his growth is comparable to Liljegren's game where he came to the AHL and was put in more defensive situations?

Hopeful he can come good and be a quality defenseman for the Leafs in the near future. It'd be nice to actually have a success story on defense for the Leafs development.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Not able to grow his game at all is an exaggeration and not exactly what I meant. I was asking because a few years ago it was expected he'd be pushing for an NHL spot around now (or as early as last year) and he hasn't even gotten a sniff.

Anyways, from posters in here it seems like he's steadily improving in other facets. Seems like maybe his growth is comparable to Liljegren's game where he came to the AHL and was put in more defensive situations?

Hopeful he can come good and be a quality defenseman for the Leafs in the near future. It'd be nice to actually have a success story on defense for the Leafs development.

I think mentally I had envisioned him as a one-way offensive type PP guy but apparently he's cleaned up defensively quite a bit.

 

[darrylsittler27]

I think Berube has decided to go with a vet defense.

 

[SprDaVE]

Nice article about Minten

Multiple Toronto Maple Leafs are preparing for their own practice commencing in an hour on the same rink when Fraser Minten looks up from the bag of pucks he is emptying. He wants to continue exhaustive post-practice stick-handling and shooting work. Only the sound of boards opening to bring a long-overdue Zamboni onto the rink breaks his concentration.

“You’re kicking me off?” Minten shouts, feigning surprise, to affable Leafs staffer Mike Kelly.

Minten fires a few more pucks into an empty net before narrowly avoiding the Zamboni’s path. His desire to soak up ice time is understandable: The 20-year-old Leafs prospect suffered a high-ankle sprain during a rookie tournament game against the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 15. After cracking the Leafs opening night roster as a 19-year-old centre in 2023 and playing four NHL games, Minten could not attend main training camp and make the impression he wanted to on new coach Craig Berube.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853798106120212664

 

[The Shadow]

I hope I’m wrong but I think Minten is so overrated.

 

[ACC1224]

Nice article about Minten

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853798106120212664

It would be great if this kid could help out this year.

 

[dangomon]

I hope I’m wrong but I think Minten is so overrated.

I'm not really sure how he can be overrated when there is next to no hype around him beyond people thinking he can be a useful NHL player. I don't think I've seen a single comment about high-end potential/upside or projecting a massive amount of points at the pro level.

He's pretty firmly in potential-3C territory with an optimistic upside of 2C who can play both ends of the ice. Considering what we know about his work ethic, PK ability from last year, and the little bit of offensive potential he's shown in junior, this seems pretty reasonable.

 

[stickty111]

I hope I’m wrong but I think Minten is so overrated.

Can't be overrated if he barely gets any hype now. If anything Cowen is the overrated one

 

[ULF_55]

Minten is so rated.

People just go overboard on how rated he is.

Non-stop rating going on with this young man.

But as Burke says he'll always be 6'2" and getting heavier.

 

[The Shadow]

I'm not really sure how he can be overrated when there is next to no hype around him beyond people thinking he can be a useful NHL player. I don't think I've seen a single comment about high-end potential/upside or projecting a massive amount of points at the pro level.

He's pretty firmly in potential-3C territory with an optimistic upside of 2C who can play both ends of the ice. Considering what we know about his work ethic, PK ability from last year, and the little bit of offensive potential he's shown in junior, this seems pretty reasonable.

You make a good point. I just see some posts that he is a blue chip prospect and I just don’t see it. Maybe I’m missing something and I do hope I’m wrong

 

[ULF_55]

You make a good point. I just see some posts that he is a blue chip prospect and I just don’t see it. Maybe I’m missing something and I do hope I’m wrong

A great question ...

Does a blue-chip prospect have to be a top 6 player, or 1st. pairing defender?

Is there such a thing as a blue-chip prospect goaltender? Is there such a thing as a guaranteed goaltender prospect?

 

[Fogelhund]

You make a good point. I just see some posts that he is a blue chip prospect and I just don’t see it. Maybe I’m missing something and I do hope I’m wrong

Where are you seeing posts that he's a blue chip prospect? I don't see much of that here to be honest. There seems to be two varying opinions on him... that's he's likely to be a 3C... with maybe 2C upside if we are lucky, and those that think he's a 4C, with 3C upside if we are lucky. But projecting either a 3C, or 4C, doesn't really scream blue chip prospect at all... but a decent sized C, who is solid defensively, is definitely an organizational need.

 

[1specter]

If Minten turns into a Scott Laughton type I'll be pretty content. Ideally you'd want something more but if he's not a first round pick a Laughton level player is a decent turnout.

 

[Gilmour1996]

Aside from where he projects, just looking forward to some cost-effectiveness, youthful enthusiasm and good character which will rub off on his team mates, as it has with Knies.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

You make a good point. I just see some posts that he is a blue chip prospect and I just don’t see it. Maybe I’m missing something and I do hope I’m wrong

LOL I would love to see those, can you find any at all or is it just something you remember that didn't actually happen?

 

[The Shadow]

LOL I would love to see those, can you find any at all or is it just something you remember that didn't actually happen?

I’m sure you don’t have a set list of threads or posts ready at the drop of a hat but being a fairly observant person I would say I’m fairly certain I saw posts like this.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

I’m sure you don’t have a set list of threads or posts ready at the drop of a hat but being a fairly observant person I would say I’m fairly certain I saw posts like this.

Blue chip... with Minten.... Fraser Minten?

Like the posts are about Minten being a blue chip prospect?

As in there are people in the hockey world, who arent just trolling you, who are saying Fraser Minten is a blue chip prospect in the hockey world?

The reason I dont believe your memory, even a little bit, is because this is HF boards (not because of you). If there were posts like that, they would be in every Minten related thread with "OMG JEREMY BRACCO rite!?" posts from... the best of the best of HF finest rubbing it in our faces as though the outlier, outrageous and ludicrous opinion is collectively shared by each and every one of us individual leafs fans.

But also when I make a claim I usually make sure I can back it up with the appropriate evidence myself but in cases like this I can understand you not giving a f*** about doing any backtracking about some idiot opinions you may have read.

 

[sxvnert]

Where are you seeing posts that he's a blue chip prospect? I don't see much of that here to be honest. There seems to be two varying opinions on him... that's he's likely to be a 3C... with maybe 2C upside if we are lucky, and those that think he's a 4C, with 3C upside if we are lucky. But projecting either a 3C, or 4C, doesn't really scream blue chip prospect at all... but a decent sized C, who is solid defensively, is definitely an organizational need.

Leafs management have the made the case often especially during last seasons deadline.

 

[The Iceman]

At this time last year Minton was about to be named captain of the Canadian WJC team.
That should speak to his leadership skills.


And this happened Nov.24 last year
Kamloops Blazers captain Fraser Minten has been traded to the Saskatoon Blades.

In a significant return, the Blazers get 18 year-old forward Jordan Keller, the son of former Blazer Aaron Keller, who is now the team’s Director of Player Personnel. They also land a pair of first round picks in 2024 and 2025 as well as a fourth round pick in 2024.

“It was hard,” Blazers Head Coach and General Manager Shaun Clouston said. “It was sincerely the hardest conversation regarding a player move that I’ve had to deal with. He means that much to the group, with the qualities he possesses and puts out there for everyone to see on a daily basis.”

This player had a TON of hype at this time last year. Well deserved.
Canada tanking at the WJC I think has a lot to do with Minton's lack of hype at the moment.