The TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings were compiled by a panel of seven TLN writers, each ranking our top 20 prospects to form a consensus group ranking. 
Rather than hard and fast limits on age or NHL games played to determine &#8220;prospect&#8221; eligibility, our group decided on a more nuanced approach to include any reasonably young player who is either under contract with the Leafs or on the club&#8217;s reserve list, who has not yet established himself as a full-time NHLer.
The 2023-24 season was a bit of a chaotic one for Fraser Minten, but through the highs and lows, he has accelerated his NHL timeline and secured his place as one of the top prospects in the Maple Leafs&#8217; organization.
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It started out in training camp last fall, with Minten looking to turn the page on a somewhat disappointing second half to his draft+1 season that was capped off by an underwhelming showing at the Memorial Cup. Not only did he turn the page, but he may have jumped ahead a couple of chapters with his performance in the preseason, which earned him a spot on the Leafs&#8217; opening night roster. Though it was more of an audition than an arrival, Minten was never expected to compete for an NHL job as soon as he did, and his inclusion on the roster to start the season illustrated the growth in his game, as well as the Leafs&#8217; belief in him as a key part of their future.
Ultimately, Minten appeared in just four games for the Leafs before he was sent back to his junior club in Kamloops, going pointless while averaging 11:26 of ice time per game. Though he was unable to make much of an offensive impact in his brief NHL stint, he didn&#8217;t look overwhelmed by the level of competition, with the Leafs controlling nearly 57% of the expected goals while Minten was on the ice at 5v5.
Upon his return to Kamloops, the rebuilding Blazers made Minten their captain, but he played just seven games before he was dealt to the Saskatoon Blades in late November. He barely had time to settle in with Saskatoon, playing five games with his new club before he was off to represent Canada at the World Juniors in Sweden. He was productive in three pre-tournament games, notching three goals and two assists, and was once again bestowed the honour of being named captain, this time for Team Canada.
Unfortunately, Minten and the rest of his Canadian teammates could not deliver a medal, losing to Czechia in the quarterfinal on a fluke goal in the final moments of regulation. Minten finished the tournament tied for seventh in team scoring with just a goal and two assists in five games, but he was perhaps a bit miscast in the role he was tasked with by the Canadian coaching staff. Noted for his advanced defensive game and ability to drive play from the middle of the ice, Minten was used almost exclusively as a winger in a top-six offensive role and never really seemed to find his footing.
To his credit, Minten wasted little time shaking off a disappointing performance at the World Juniors and stepped right back into a prominent role with the Blades, tallying 11 goals and 11 assists as Saskatoon went 12-1-1 in the first 14 games after his return. Minten and the Blades would prove to be nearly unbeatable for the rest of the season, finishing the season with the top record in the WHL. He ended the regular season with 22 goals and 26 assists in 43 games between Kamloops and Saskatoon, and though the numbers don&#8217;t jump off the page, his leadership, mature defensive play, and physicality all played a crucial role in the Blades&#8217; ascension to the top of the standings. Minten carried his strong play into the postseason, scoring eight goals and six assists in 16 games as the Blades made short work of Prince Albert and Red Deer before falling to the eventual WHL champion Moose Jaw Warriors in seven games.
Now, with a tumultuous season in the rearview mirror, Minten is once again preparing for Leafs training camp. Putting his best foot forward earned him a surprise stint in the NHL to start last season, but this time around, a more permanent spot on the Leafs&#8217; roster appears well within reach from the outset.
If Minten is able to crack the NHL roster and stick with the club beyond the opening days of the season, it will be on the strength of his defensive game much more so than his ability to drive offence. There is an argument to be made that there are a handful of prospects ranked lower on our list who possess more upside and raw offensive talent than Minten, but his overall game is a much easier projection to the NHL, even if his ceiling is a bit lower, and that will provide him with ample opportunity to continue rounding out his skill set to become a regular contributor.
That&#8217;s not to say Minten is bereft of offensive skill by any means. He has an NHL-calibre shot, the handling skill and scanning habits to navigate pressure from opposing defences, and the vision to find teammates in open ice. Those attributes were apparent in isolation during his draft year, but he has progressively gotten better at layering those skills on top of one another, making him a more consistent and dynamic player both with the puck and without it. Minten&#8217;s scanning habits have helped him improve his ability to find pockets of open space, not only in the offensive zone but down low in his own end and in transition. It might not always lead directly to an offensive chance, but more often than not, Minten&#8217;s ability to support his teammates and find open space leads to sustained possession for his team.
Minten&#8217;s skating isn&#8217;t a standout attribute at this stage of his development, but he builds speed through crossovers and has a good sense of timing his arrival into an open lane to give his teammates a passing option. He&#8217;ll play a dump-and-chase game, and he is more than willing to engage physically on the forecheck, but he has also gotten better at understanding when to dish the puck and keep his feet moving to get open for a return feed off the rush.
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Big time hit by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeafsForever?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LeafsForever</a> prospect Fraser Minten <a href="https://t.co/7vWNzq2TJd">pic.twitter.com/7vWNzq2TJd</a>
&mdash; Nick Richard (@_NickRichard) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NickRichard/status/1636950766614204418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In junior, Minten was a weapon in the powerplay, routinely beating goaltenders from the flank with a heavy and accurate wrist shot. He has the ability to finish quality scoring opportunities, but he may never be a top power play option at the pro level, so he will have to continue to learn how to use his size and strength to win battles along the boards and fight through checks to get into the middle of the offensive zone more consistently. He has shown both the ability and willingness to battle for space around the opposing net, and now it is about continuing to integrate that alongside his play-reading and shooting skills.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Lethal release by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeafsForever?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LeafsForever</a> prospect Fraser Minten for his 24th of the year <a href="https://t.co/6EV3NlvnCI">pic.twitter.com/6EV3NlvnCI</a>
&mdash; Nick Richard (@_NickRichard) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NickRichard/status/1624276698505043968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Even with continued development to his offensive game, Minten may never become a dynamic threat at the NHL level, but it also isn&#8217;t a stretch to say that he could hold his own as a checking centre for the Leafs as soon as this coming season. A lot of times with young players, it&#8217;s the defensive game that has to catch up to their offensive skill, but Minten already displays the defensive discipline and maturity that eludes some players for their entire careers. He is never going to be short on effort, and he understands the finer details of in-zone coverage, such as when to rotate off his check or box opposing support players out of battles.
After bouncing from Toronto to Kamloops, to Saskatoon, to Sweden, and then back to Saskatoon, Minten can now call Toronto home for the foreseeable future. As it stands, there appears to be a job in the Leafs&#8217; bottom six there for the taking to begin the season, and after a short cameo in that role last season, Minten will likely be given every opportunity to earn a spot on the opening night roster once again. If the Leafs instead opt to have Minten start the season with the Marlies, he will likely be deployed in a more prominent role with more opportunities for him to develop his offensive game against pro-level competition.
However it shakes out in training camp, it looks like the Leafs landed a valuable NHL contributor when they selected Minten 38th overall in the 2022 draft. He may have been considered an off-the-board pick that early in the 2022 draft, but just a couple of years later, he could be making an impact for the Leafs sooner than anyone expected.
Statistics from EliteProspects.com, NHL.com, &amp; Evolving-Hockey.com

The TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings were compiled by a panel of seven TLN writers, each ranking our top 20 prospects to form a consensus group ranking. 

Rather than hard and fast limits on age or NHL games played to determine "prospect" eligibility, our group decided on a more nuanced approach to include any reasonably young player who is either under contract with the Leafs or on the club's reserve list, who has not yet established himself as a full-time NHLer.

The 2023-24 season was a bit of a chaotic one for Fraser Minten, but through the highs and lows, he has accelerated his NHL timeline and secured his place as one of the top prospects in the Maple Leafs' organization.
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It started out in training camp last fall, with Minten looking to turn the page on a somewhat disappointing second half to his draft+1 season that was capped off by an underwhelming showing at the Memorial Cup. Not only did he turn the page, but he may have jumped ahead a couple of chapters with his performance in the preseason, which earned him a spot on the Leafs' opening night roster. Though it was more of an audition than an arrival, Minten was never expected to compete for an NHL job as soon as he did, and his inclusion on the roster to start the season illustrated the growth in his game, as well as the Leafs' belief in him as a key part of their future.

Ultimately, Minten appeared in just four games for the Leafs before he was sent back to his junior club in Kamloops, going pointless while averaging 11:26 of ice time per game. Though he was unable to make much of an offensive impact in his brief NHL stint, he didn't look overwhelmed by the level of competition, with the Leafs controlling nearly 57% of the expected goals while Minten was on the ice at 5v5.

Upon his return to Kamloops, the rebuilding Blazers made Minten their captain, but he played just seven games before he was dealt to the Saskatoon Blades in late November. He barely had time to settle in with Saskatoon, playing five games with his new club before he was off to represent Canada at the World Juniors in Sweden. He was productive in three pre-tournament games, notching three goals and two assists, and was once again bestowed the honour of being named captain, this time for Team Canada.

Unfortunately, Minten and the rest of his Canadian teammates could not deliver a medal, losing to Czechia in the quarterfinal on a fluke goal in the final moments of regulation. Minten finished the tournament tied for seventh in team scoring with just a goal and two assists in five games, but he was perhaps a bit miscast in the role he was tasked with by the Canadian coaching staff. Noted for his advanced defensive game and ability to drive play from the middle of the ice, Minten was used almost exclusively as a winger in a top-six offensive role and never really seemed to find his footing.

To his credit, Minten wasted little time shaking off a disappointing performance at the World Juniors and stepped right back into a prominent role with the Blades, tallying 11 goals and 11 assists as Saskatoon went 12-1-1 in the first 14 games after his return. Minten and the Blades would prove to be nearly unbeatable for the rest of the season, finishing the season with the top record in the WHL. He ended the regular season with 22 goals and 26 assists in 43 games between Kamloops and Saskatoon, and though the numbers don't jump off the page, his leadership, mature defensive play, and physicality all played a crucial role in the Blades' ascension to the top of the standings. Minten carried his strong play into the postseason, scoring eight goals and six assists in 16 games as the Blades made short work of Prince Albert and Red Deer before falling to the eventual WHL champion Moose Jaw Warriors in seven games.

Now, with a tumultuous season in the rearview mirror, Minten is once again preparing for Leafs training camp. Putting his best foot forward earned him a surprise stint in the NHL to start last season, but this time around, a more permanent spot on the Leafs' roster appears well within reach from the outset.

If Minten is able to crack the NHL roster and stick with the club beyond the opening days of the season, it will be on the strength of his defensive game much more so than his ability to drive offence. There is an argument to be made that there are a handful of prospects ranked lower on our list who possess more upside and raw offensive talent than Minten, but his overall game is a much easier projection to the NHL, even if his ceiling is a bit lower, and that will provide him with ample opportunity to continue rounding out his skill set to become a regular contributor.

That's not to say Minten is bereft of offensive skill by any means. He has an NHL-calibre shot, the handling skill and scanning habits to navigate pressure from opposing defences, and the vision to find teammates in open ice. Those attributes were apparent in isolation during his draft year, but he has progressively gotten better at layering those skills on top of one another, making him a more consistent and dynamic player both with the puck and without it. Minten's scanning habits have helped him improve his ability to find pockets of open space, not only in the offensive zone but down low in his own end and in transition. It might not always lead directly to an offensive chance, but more often than not, Minten's ability to support his teammates and find open space leads to sustained possession for his team.

Minten's skating isn't a standout attribute at this stage of his development, but he builds speed through crossovers and has a good sense of timing his arrival into an open lane to give his teammates a passing option. He'll play a dump-and-chase game, and he is more than willing to engage physically on the forecheck, but he has also gotten better at understanding when to dish the puck and keep his feet moving to get open for a return feed off the rush.

https://twitter.com/_NickRichard/status/1636950766614204418

In junior, Minten was a weapon in the powerplay, routinely beating goaltenders from the flank with a heavy and accurate wrist shot. He has the ability to finish quality scoring opportunities, but he may never be a top power play option at the pro level, so he will have to continue to learn how to use his size and strength to win battles along the boards and fight through checks to get into the middle of the offensive zone more consistently. He has shown both the ability and willingness to battle for space around the opposing net, and now it is about continuing to integrate that alongside his play-reading and shooting skills.

https://twitter.com/_NickRichard/status/1624276698505043968

Even with continued development to his offensive game, Minten may never become a dynamic threat at the NHL level, but it also isn't a stretch to say that he could hold his own as a checking centre for the Leafs as soon as this coming season. A lot of times with young players, it's the defensive game that has to catch up to their offensive skill, but Minten already displays the defensive discipline and maturity that eludes some players for their entire careers. He is never going to be short on effort, and he understands the finer details of in-zone coverage, such as when to rotate off his check or box opposing support players out of battles.

After bouncing from Toronto to Kamloops, to Saskatoon, to Sweden, and then back to Saskatoon, Minten can now call Toronto home for the foreseeable future. As it stands, there appears to be a job in the Leafs' bottom six there for the taking to begin the season, and after a short cameo in that role last season, Minten will likely be given every opportunity to earn a spot on the opening night roster once again. If the Leafs instead opt to have Minten start the season with the Marlies, he will likely be deployed in a more prominent role with more opportunities for him to develop his offensive game against pro-level competition.

However it shakes out in training camp, it looks like the Leafs landed a valuable NHL contributor when they selected Minten 38th overall in the 2022 draft. He may have been considered an off-the-board pick that early in the 2022 draft, but just a couple of years later, he could be making an impact for the Leafs sooner than anyone expected.

Statistics from EliteProspects.com, NHL.com, &amp; Evolving-Hockey.com

2024 TLN Maple Leafs Prospect Rankings: #2 Fraser Minten

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