Maple Leafs’ Missed Youth Movement on Full Display as Former Prospects Shine Elsewhere
As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to stumble through a disappointing season, Thursday night served as a harsh reminder of the consequences that come with trading away young talent too soon. While the Leafs were on the wrong end of a loss to the Seattle Kraken, two former prospects they shipped out less than a year ago were busy making noise elsewhere - and making Toronto’s front office look increasingly short-sighted in the process.
Let’s start in Boston, where 21-year-old Fraser Minten was elevated to the Bruins’ second-line center spot against the Flyers. Minten didn’t just hold his own - he thrived.
A goal, two assists, a +3 rating, and time on both the power play and penalty kill. That’s not just a good night - that’s a player showing he belongs.
It was Minten’s 14th goal in what’s shaping up to be a breakout rookie campaign. For perspective, that total would rank fifth on the Leafs roster right now.
Bruins head coach Marco Sturm didn’t mince words after the game. “I put him in different situations from fourth line to pretty much first line and you could see he can do it all,” Sturm said. “He definitely has something a lot of players don’t have.”
And while Minten was lighting it up in Boston, Nikita Grebenkin - another former Leafs prospect - was doing the same in Philadelphia. Promoted to the Flyers’ top line, Grebenkin responded with a goal and a gritty, high-energy performance that had head coach Rick Tocchet singing his praises. Grebenkin was part of the same trade-day departure as Minten, sent to Philly in the deal that brought Scott Laughton to Toronto.
Two trades. Two young players.
Two goals. Two assists.
And two organizations that seem to understand the value of giving young talent a real shot.
For the Leafs, this isn’t just about a couple of prospects playing well elsewhere. It’s about a pattern.
For years, Toronto has leaned heavily on veteran experience, often at the expense of developing or even keeping its own draft picks. The result?
A team that’s aging, slowing down, and now watching its former prospects thrive in other cities.
It's not that the Leafs haven't drafted well - in fact, quite the opposite. Under former amateur scouting director Wes Clark and current director Mark Leach, Toronto’s scouting department has quietly built a solid pipeline. But drafting well only matters if you give those players a path to the NHL.
Take Easton Cowan, Ben Danford, Artur Akhtyamov, and Tinus Luc Koblar. These are names Leafs fans should get familiar with - and names management should be extremely cautious about moving.
If Toronto wants to retool and extend the window for its aging core, the answer isn’t always in the trade market. Sometimes, it’s in your own system.
Look at what Leach’s more recent picks are doing. Third-rounder Tyler Hopkins is climbing the OHL scoring charts among his age group.
Koblar, a second-round pick, is already producing in the SHL against grown men. Are they NHL-ready?
That’s still to be determined - but the Leafs need to find out for themselves instead of letting another team reap the rewards.
The Bruins are a perfect case study. They’re in a playoff spot, getting meaningful contributions from two 21-year-old centers with a combined cap hit of less than $1.7 million.
That’s how you build a contender in the cap era - by supplementing your stars with cost-controlled, high-upside youth. And it’s the kind of approach Toronto has to start embracing.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but the Minten trade is aging poorly - especially considering a first-round pick was also included in the deal for Brandon Carlo. Minten was once viewed as a potential third-liner.
Now? He’s showing signs of being much more than that.
Grebenkin, once labeled a “B” prospect, is proving he’s an NHL-caliber winger with bite.
If those two had stayed in Toronto and developed into what they’re becoming elsewhere, the Leafs’ 2022 draft class would be looking like one of their best in years - and that’s with just five picks.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope. On Saturday, the Leafs are set to give 27-year-old defenseman Marshall Rifai another NHL look. Rifai’s been solid with the Marlies and brings a competitive edge that could fill a need on next year’s roster.
“He’s done a good job with the Marlies. We want to get a look at him here,” head coach Craig Berube said. “I love his feet and his competitiveness.”
More of that, please.
There’s a growing belief within the organization that Ben Danford could be a Chris Tanev-type down the road - and with Tanev-sized holes potentially opening on the Leafs’ blue line next season, the timing couldn’t be better to find out.
Then there’s Dennis Hildeby. The big netminder was sent back to the Marlies when Anthony Stolarz returned from injury, but his .912 save percentage this season is tops among Leafs goalies. He deserves more NHL action - not just as a reward, but as a possible long-term solution in net.
William Villeneuve is another name worth mentioning. The 23-year-old right-shot defenseman has made real strides with the Marlies, showing improved defensive play to go with his puck-moving ability. With 40 points in 55 AHL games last season, he’s earned a look.
And how about Jacob Quillan? The 23-year-old forward is averaging just 7:38 of ice time in his NHL appearances so far.
If the Leafs want to know what they’ve got, they need to give him a real chance. They’ve already seen what happens when they don’t - just ask Alex Steeves, now scoring goals for the Bruins.
The Leafs have a chance to reshape their supporting cast from within. That means letting Mark Leach and the scouting department go to work this summer - and it means approaching the trade deadline with a different mindset. Veterans should be moved for picks and prospects, not for short-term band-aids.
And then there’s the looming issue of their first-round pick. If it falls outside the top five, it goes to Boston - a potentially franchise-altering gift to a division rival.
Toronto can’t afford to let that happen without pushing back. They need to climb in this year’s draft and protect their future.
Because let’s face it: the Leafs’ center depth is looking shaky.
John Tavares is slowing down. It’s fair to question whether he can continue to carry second-line duties.
Scott Laughton, acquired to anchor the third line, has spent most of his time on the fourth. And while Max Domi brings versatility, he’s not a long-term solution at center.
What they need is a player like Fraser Minten - a Swiss Army knife with upside, grit, and the ability to play in all situations. Too bad he’s doing that in Boston now.
The Leafs can’t change the past. But they can start building a smarter future - one that doesn’t involve watching their own prospects become key pieces for other teams.