Insider reveals where the Leafs stand with rookie Fraser Minten after 3 games
FOLLOW US
Fraser Minten surprised pretty much everyone when he made the Leafs out of training camp. Through three games so far, he has not looked out of place, but he has also had his moments where you could tell he was a rookie. Following his first game against Montreal last week Sheldon Keefe acknowledged that he is still going to have to adjust to playing at the NHL, specifically in the regular season, given that it is a vastly different pace than the pre-season.
Now that Minten has played three games, he only has six games left for the Leafs to determine if they will burn the first year of his entry-level deal or send him back to Kamloops for another season in the WHL. According to Chris Johnston of TSN, the Leafs' upcoming five-game road-trip will go a long way in determining what they do.
"These next stretch of games are going to be really important. Brad Treliving set the table for this when he spoke to reporters at the beginning of training camp. He said with a 19-year-old he wants to see someone who can help the team win games, not just someone who survives. As the Leafs head out on the road now, Minten has played three NHL games. The Leafs won't be able to insulate him as much on those road games so they will be looking to see how he exerts himself before they make a decision on if he goes back to Kamloops or remains in the NHL beyond that 9-game mark." - Johnston on the determining factor in whether Fraser Minten will remain with the Leafs or be sent back to junior
As Johnston said, Minten was able to be insulated and have his line matchups altered in his first three games because the Leafs had the luxury of controlling the last change. That won't be possible on their road-trip and Minten will likely be thrown into the fire as the Leafs begin with games against Florida and Tampa - the only two teams from the East to make it to the Cup Finals the last three seasons. Minten had been skating with Matthew Knies and either Calle Jarnkrok or Max Domi, but it would not be surprising to see him have a pair of veteran wingers on his line throughout the road-trip to help him defensively against tougher matchups.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 18 | 156 ANSWERS Insider reveals where the Leafs stand with rookie Fraser Minten after 3 games Will Minten remain with the Leafs past 9 games | ||
| Yes | 38 | 24.4 % |
| No | 118 | 75.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
