Clock is ticking for Fraser Minten in Toronto!

Many fans and pundits feel that rookie Fraser Minten has earned a spot on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ roster. The prospect still has junior eligibility, meaning he has to play in the NHL or be returned to Kamloops of the WHL and a key milestone is coming up as the Maple Leafs decide what to do with their CHL eligible player. Toronto needs to make the call prior to the 10-game mark of the regular season and Chris Johnston explained on last night’s Insider Trading on TSN how it feels like the clock is ticking for Minten:

“He surprisingly made the team out of training camp, [and] this next stretch of games is going to be very important. General manager Brad Treliving set the table for this when he spoke to reporters at the end of training camp. He said ‘with a 19-year-old we want to see a player who can help us win games, not just someone who survives’.

"So as the Leafs head out on the road, Minten has played three NHL games, and the team won’t be able to insulate him as much on the road in terms of matchups. So, they’re looking to see how he exerts himself before they make a decision whether he goes back to the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League or if he remains in the NHL beyond the nine-game mark.”

For the Leafs, it’s also a question of the cap since Minten’s full salary and bonuses will be reflected in the team salary cap. If the Maple Leafs choose to hold on to him, the first year of his deal will be spent, regardless of whether the Leafs decide to send him back to junior down the road.

And so while the clock is ticking, Treliving and the Maple Leafs need to make the right call. Through three games this season, Minten has averaged 12:19 of ice time but hasn’t produced offensively. While he is adapting to the speed of the NHL game, the next six games on the calendar will be telling for Minten’s future before the Leafs have to make a decision to keep him in the NHL or send him back to junior…

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