2024 T25U25: Fraser Minten is #3

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Buzz Zeitgeist here guest posting to bring you my chat with Leafs prospect Fraser Minten.

Fraser Minten	Vitals
Age as of July 1	19.99
Position	C
Height	6'1"
Weight (lbs)	185
Shoots	L
Draft Year	2022
Draft Number	38

BZ: Fraser good to meet you, you can call me Beez. Uh, it's true to say most Leafs fans were really disappointed when you were drafted, and wanted someone else like Luca Del Bel Belluz. Such a fun name.

Minten: I had a lot of good conversations with the Leafs. They showed a lot of interest immediately after my season, so I was kinda honestly hoping it would work out. At the Draft

BZ: So you were the safe pick? High floor, but ya gotta duck down because that ceiling is low, am I right? Ha ha, I kill myself.

Minten: We talked about [the type of player the Leafs want me to become] in our meetings throughout the draft process – what I expected, what they expected. They didn’t want to put a ceiling on it with me, they said we see you as being pretty safe becoming a bottom-six guy, and playing there but we also think there is a lot of possibility for you to grow into a top-six player and develop offensively. They didn’t put a ceiling on it. Dev Camp '22

The Player

BZ: What sort of player do you emulate or someone who inspires you?

Minten: Being a big Canucks fan I like watching Horvat, a good two-way player. I like watching Backlund on the Flames, two-way centremen like that, I try to pick pieces from their game and implement them into mine. At the Draft

BZ: Those are kind of dull guys.

Minten: Barkov, one of my favourite players to watch. I think. He’s nasty, and facing off against him, he’s so big and pretty strong. Game Tape '24

BZ: Easton Cowan went on that goal streak, and that was fun. Did you do anything fun?

Minten:

@bardown
Fraser Minten, who lived with John Tavares earlier this season, found out he was captain from JT and his kids 🥹🥹 #hockey #worldjuniors #leafs
♬ original sound - BarDown

BZ: Tavares is so washed.

Minten: ...

BZ: You sure talk a lot about hard work. That's just code for can't score, though right? Skill it up or grab the lunch box, bro, that's how it is.

Minten: [Being the hardest worker means a] better chance to help your team, better chance to win if you’re working hard. There’s only so far skill can get you. You have to be absolutely ridiculously skilled to get away without working hard at the [junior level], and it's absolutely impossible at the next.

It’s pretty hard against good defence to score off the rush, you have to be super fast and super skilled, and you don’t really get too many odd-mans. These are the type of plays that translate. The way hockey is played for the majority of people, I think it’s really hard to make it as a super skilled guy, and most teams already have these guys.

If I want to carve my way into that [Leafs] lineup at some point, it will be based on work ethic and playing hard, and getting to those areas and finding ways to battle pucks into the net and win battles, disrupt on the forecheck, work hard defensively. Game Tape '24

BZ: So serious. Do you ever relax?

Minten: [Jason Spezza did a Q&A at '22 Dev Camp] and he put an emphasis on how much the game’s changed and how serious everyone takes it nowadays and how much more time you have to put into it now than like 20 years ago.

I asked him if there was anything he noticed about the very best player, like if there’s anything he consistently noticed they did differently He said their self-awareness was really good, always being able to improve themselves and critique themselves. Dev Camp '22

BZ: But, like fun? Like video games or something?

Minten:

BZ: Man, you'd think you were a goalie or something.

The Votes

BZ: Some fans like you, but man, there's a lot that think other guys have passed you by. You never made the Leafs last year and Cowan will be top line this year. What do you plan to do to catch up?

Minten: I’ve got a bit of a delay sometimes in my game in my pace. When I pick up a puck or receive a pass, gliding and kind of looking around. Scanning the ice prior to receiving pucks, and knowing what I’m going to do as I receive it rather than getting it and then deciding what to do. Being a little quicker with my decision making with the puck. Like moving my feet with my hands and my brain all at once rather than doing it in a step by step process which has worked so far, but there’s really no time at the higher levels. Game Tape '24

BZ: Huh. Thought it was all just instinct. You either have it or you don't.

Minten: I think my game translates really well to the next level. Maybe other guys have more talent or more skill but ... that's not always what gets you to the next level, it's work ethic and continued improvement. I think one of my strengths is knowing my game and knowing who I am as a player and working hard at my game to continue to progress. Game Tape '24

Happy 20th birthday Fraser Minten, who is celebrating with some extra work at the end of Leafs development camp practice pic.twitter.com/aQu0IZ0rgx
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) July 5, 2024

Voter	Vote
Cathy	3
Brian	4
Species	3
Adam	7
Hardev	4
dhammm	5
Cameron S	4
Hound Line	3
brysplace	4
Catch-67	3
Sclodiggity	4
shinson93	4
The Bag	5
Zone Entry	5
Weighted Average	4.14
Highest Vote	3
Lowest Vote	7

The Opinions

dhammm: At this point, I don't think Minten will be a star, but between his frame and his brain, I do think he has a solid chance at being an NHLer of some description, likely a bottom-six centre, maybe even a superlative one. If he doesn't make the team out of camp—and note that he surprisingly came close this past season, necessitating the Sam Lafferty trade, and their centre depth ain't great—then he'll win the Jeremy Bracco Award for prospect most used in trade proposals by Leafs fans looking to plug holes.

Sclodiggity: In a relatively weak year, Minten’s 4 NHL games and World Juniors appearance is enough to warrant his placement (I actually had him below Robertson). Projects with decent confidence to a middle 6 center and there’s value in that. Hard to see more upside than a 3rd line center if he’s on a strong team.

shinson93: Making the team out of camp last year keeps him closer to the “sure things” compared to the “maybes”. This guy reminds me a lot of Matt Stajan. Nothing fancy and not great if he’s your top center, but I see a long and productive career ahead.

Cameron S: While Minten had a little bit of a down year, I think he’s still going to be great, and the fact that he captained Team Canada in the WJC last winter speaks to that. I think he will be at very least a solid bottom 6 centre who can play on the PK. and I think he will see an extended look this season to be a centre on L3/L4, especially if injuries arise.

The Bag: I had no idea what to do with Minten, because of who he was jostling with in my rankings, and this may be my most significant miss this year. If he’s the prospect everyone else seems to think he is, he should have a fairly dominant year with the Marlies this year (and/or spend meaningful time with the Leafs). His coaches clearly love him. Dubas and/or Keefe clearly loved him, or at least thought there’s something there. I guess the question is whether he can bring enough offense (not points) to be an above-average 3C in the NHL. If he can, I sure blew it with this ranking.

Hardev: Point per game in the WHL last season and the season before (even goals-assists ratio). Scored a bunch in the playoffs when his team went deep in two of the three playoff years he's played in. Captain of his club and the WJC team. He impressed the Leafs so much at camp last year he got NHL games in, and he genuinely wasn't far off at 19. He was pretty much as good as Pontus Holmberg already. I really like this player. I think he's going to step into the AHL and excel immediately. He thinks fast, he plays in an unselfish way, he works hard, he's got the physical abilities to win battles and beat opponents. He's going to be a really great two way player one day. And it won't be long before he's in the NHL. I probably should've put him over Robertson.

Brian: Minten is Toronto's future 3C. End of. Whatever you think about his points this past year does not matter. He improved his underlying metrics across the board to a significant degree, becoming much better at driving offense and defense and one of the best overall two-way players in the entire CHL. He may not be the best or flashiest or most impressive player on the team, but he will be an important one you want to have on the roster.

The full Game Tape video is Minten on Minten, the most knowledgeable scout there is.

Your turn: give your take on the man who speaks for himself.

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