Leafs prospect Fraser Minten set to join organization full-time next season

A second round pick of the Leafs in the 2022 draft, Fraser Minten surprised many, including the Leafs brass themselves when he made the team out of training camp last season.

Keeping Minten on the roster for opening night this past season forced the Leafs to trade Sam Lafferty to the Vancouver Canucks to clear cap space. Minten skated in four games with the Leafs before being sent back to the WHL meaning the team did not burn a year off of his entry-level contract.

Minten is eligible to return to the WHL as an over-age player as he turns 20 in July, but it appears that he will be passing up that opportunity to make the leap to the pros.

Many fans in Toronto are hoping Minten will stick with the Leafs this season and provide the team with more depth down the middle and in the bottom-six at the cost of $816K, freeing up valuable cap space.

The Vancouver, BC native put up 38 points in 43 games last season between the Kamloops Blazers and Saskatoon Blades. Minten also captained Team Canada at the World Juniors where he had 1 goal and 3 points in 5 games.

While the hope is that he spends the entire season in the NHL, the door will be open for him to join the Toronto Marlies in the AHL if some more seasoning is needed as well.

Sources: Sportsnet

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