Top Maple Leafs prospect has been traded

It wasn't long ago that the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to make 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.

He had skated in four games this season with the Leafs, registering zero points while also taking one penalty. But now, he finds himself on the move within the WHL. 

Earlier today, he was traded to the Saskatoon Blades in a blockbuster move that included a 1st round draft selection in 2024 and 2025, a 4th round pick in 2024, and forward Jordan Keller. 

“We’ve been hesitant in the past to move first round picks for one-year players but we feel our team, our fans, and the city deserve the best opportunity possible to win our very first WHL championship,” Saskatoon Blades president and general manager Colin Priestner said.

“Adding an extremely high character 6-foot-2 centre with top-end skill and NHL experience was something we needed to give us the best chance at achieving that dream.”

“Fraser brings all the elements we’ve been looking for: passion, compete, high skill level, size, Memorial Cup experience, not to mention four games of NHL regular season action with Toronto,” Priestner said. "Everyone we spoke to over the last month has raved about his character, his desire to win, and the leadership he brought as captain of the Blazers. We targeted him as our number one priority to acquire this year.”

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