Crushing demotion for Leafs Fraser Minten

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made the tough call to send down center Fraser Minten, their second-round selection (38th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, to the WHL's Kamloops Blazers. In a corresponding move, the Leafs have called up defenseman William Lagesson from their American Hockey League affiliate Toronto Marlies. 

Minten has been designated as a healthy scratch during the Leafs road trip, including last night against the Dallas Stars, which his team won by a 4-1 final. He raised more than a few eyebrows when he earned a roster spot with the Leafs out of Training Camp, but he hasn't exactly impressed during his time on the ice. 

Additionally, with Pontus Holmberg coming back into the Leafs lineup on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated that they're in a bit of a waiting game. 

"We like what Holmberg has brought and how that’s changed things and that’s part of it," Keefe said. "We’ve had some guys here that have sort of been nicked up on this trip and kind of day-to-day or at least on the injury report you’re kind of waiting on their status the next morning and I was just saying today that we’ve kind of got through that situation. So there hasn’t been an opportunity for Fraser to get back in at this stage."

However, Keefe saw benefits being absorbed by Minten simply by being around the group despite not playing in games. 

"There’s lots of value in him being around our group here on a trip like this in particular and experience life in the NHL like that," Keefe said. "He’s continue to work with the reps that he does get, he’s putting in his time.

He has skated in four games this season, registering zero points while also taking one penalty. Let's hope that he can get his game in order with the Blazers and eventually find his way back into the Leafs lineup at some point this season. 

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