Sheldon Keefe hints at plan for Fraser Minten in post-game comments
Fraser Minten has become the story of Leafs training camp, as no one had originally expected the 2022 second-round pick to have the type of camp that he had.
Minten skated in five pre-season games, including last night's finale where he played just over 20 minutes centering a line between Calle Jarnkrok and the guy he likely stole a roster spot from, Nicholas Robertson. He finished the pre-season with just a goal and two assists, but it was his overall, 200-foot game that forced Sheldon Keefe and the Leafs keep him around much longer than anyone anticipated.
Keefe spoke with the media after last night's loss to the Red Wings and was asked point blank whether or not he believed that Minten belongs on the team. Keefe affirmed his belief that Minten belongs in the NHL, but cautioned that it's not as simple as deserving a spot. The salary cap comes into play here.
"Our situation, as you know, is complex. There's a lot that goes into it. If there's no roster limitations or anything like that, salary cap, I think there's no question that he'd remain here. And we'd give him an opportunity to get some regular season time. And we'd go through that but it's not that easy a decision. It's complex. There's a lot at play." - Keefe on Minten
Reading between the lines of Keefe's comments, it would seem that despite Minten's excellent play and impressive training camp, he is all but destined to return to Kamloops due to the cap constraints the Leafs face. We will likely find out at some point today whether he forced the Leafs' hands too much and they make a roster move they weren't expecting to give Minten at the very least, a 9-game stint.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 8 | 107 ANSWERS Sheldon Keefe hints at plan for Fraser Minten in post-game comments Does Minten belong on the Leafs' roster to begin the season? | ||
| Absolutely | 78 | 72.9 % |
| No, he's not ready yet | 11 | 10.3 % |
| I'm fine either way | 18 | 16.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
