Fraser Minten on making the Maple Leafs: 'It means everything'

Get the latest from Terry Koshan straight to your inbox

Published Oct 09, 2023  •  Last updated 1 hour ago  •  3 minute read

Maple Leafs forward Fraser Minten meets with media members in Toronto on July 7, 2023. Photo by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun

Fraser Minten is golden. 

Article content

Following a camp and pre-season during which he fit in like a National Hockey League veteran, the 19-year-old Minten has skated his way onto the Maple Leafs’ roster to start the 2023-24 regular season.

Article content

“It means everything,” Minten said on Monday following Leafs practice at the Ford Performance Centre. “It has been a dream of mine for as long as I’ve been alive and playing hockey, to be in a position like this. It means a lot.”

Minten received the news on Sunday in a phone call from Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, and less than 24 hours later, was centring the Leafs’ third line with wingers Matthew Knies and Calle Jarnkrok in the team’s penultimate workout before playing host to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena.

Article content

Article content

Coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged last week that Minten wasn’t on his radar when camp started — certainly not to make the team — and reiterated as much on Monday.

The Leafs knew they had a solid prospect in Minten, selected 38th overall in 2022, and figured that another camp in Toronto would give the Vancouver native more experience to take back to Kamloops of the Western Hockey League. 

That could still happen, as the Leafs might decide to ship Minten to junior once he plays in nine games so his entry-level contract won’t kick in. It’s going to be an ongoing evaluation of Minten, as Keefe pointed out, in the next couple of weeks.

Nevertheless, it didn’t take long in camp for Minten to give the Leafs plenty to consider.

“Since his season ended, we’ve seen tremendous growth in him,” Keefe said. “He is faster, he’s bigger and stronger. The foundation of his game, probably more importantly than anything, is rooted in competitiveness, intelligence, pro habits and detail — all things that normally when kids are coming out of junior, you have to spend time to get into their game. He arrives with that.”

Article content

If you reviewed all of Minten’s shifts in six pre-season games, you could probably count on one hand the number of glaring errors he made. If that. 

For Keefe, there was not one moment when it became clear Minten could stick.

“It’s the body of work, which never really took a step backward,” Keefe said. “That’s really what you’re looking to see.

“Sometimes, whether it’s competition increasing, playing against more NHL players that are pushing as it’s closer to the (start of the) season or the grind of the pre-season, it takes a toll on you. And that didn’t happen. Because of that, he has remained relevant and in the conversation all the way through.”

When Minten played well in back-to-back games in Montreal on Sept. 29 and 30, the youngster had an idea he was gaining traction. 

Article content

“Maybe after those couple of Montreal games, I started to really believe it,” said Minten, who had 67 points in 57 games with Kamloops last season. “You know it’s always a possibility when you’re here, everybody’s watching you, if you stand out, you’re going to keep getting looks. 

“But after those games, when I was playing tough matchups and holding my own, I got the inner confidence that it was a possibility.”

Recommended from Editorial

One-time pizza boy Brad Treliving hopes to deliver a Stanley Cup to Maple Leafs

With Matt Murray out for months, Maple Leafs try to solidify depth in net

Minten’s rise in camp allowed Keefe to move William Nylander back to the wing, though we could see Nylander at centre again at some point during the season. On the financial side, when the Leafs traded forward Sam Lafferty to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, they saved $1.15 million US in cap space. 

Article content

In any event, the fact that Minten cracked the roster of a team that should be the Atlantic Division favourite speaks to not only his potential, but his impact now. 

Once Minten got off the phone with Treliving on Sunday, he called his parents, who were in Kamloops watching their younger son, Bryce, play for the Blazers. It’s probable Minten’s mom and dad will be in the stands on Wednesday night. 

“They’re just as happy as I am, which is really cool,” Minten said. “I would love to see them at some point in person and give them hugs, say thank you for everything and stuff like that. They’re super excited.”

[email protected]

X: @koshtorontosun

Article content