Fraser Minten is making his presence felt in Boston, and the early returns are making Toronto’s decision to move him look worse by the day.
At just 22 years old, Minten has already carved out a leadership role with the Bruins, and the praise from inside the room says plenty about how quickly he has gained trust. Charlie McAvoy didn’t hold back when talking about the young forward’s growth.
“He was already amazing last year. We saw glimpses of what he could be in the future. I think the biggest thing is him finding his voice, which is amazing,”
McAvoy also made it clear Minten is being viewed as more than just another young player trying to find his way.
“We wanted to bring him into the leadership group and see him flourish, because he has that personality. The way he plays is so mature. That's a way in which he can lead...we're going to lean on him a lot.”
That kind of endorsement carries real weight, and Minten has backed it up on the ice. Through seven games this season, he has four goals and seven points. He’s also posted a plus-6 rating, along with six hits, two blocks, and 16 PIM.
The timing only sharpens the spotlight on Brad Treliving’s decision to trade him. Minten was included in the deal that sent Brandon Carlo to Toronto, along with the first-round pick that was used on Gavin McKenna, top-5 protected. McKenna has given the Maple Leafs a bright-looking piece for the future, but Minten is the one who keeps making the trade feel lopsided.
Toronto could be looking at a very different picture right now if Minten were still in the fold. Instead, he’s thriving with one of the team’s biggest rivals and growing into the kind of player a team can build around in more ways than one.
For the Maple Leafs, that only makes the move harder to defend.
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