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Fraser Minten made a positive impact in return to Maple Leafs’ lineup
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Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Steven Ellis
Jan 21, 2025, 13:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 21, 2025, 12:08 EST
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It was like he never left.
Fraser Minten re-joined the Toronto Maple Leafs’ lineup on Monday night, helping the Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 at Scotiabank Arena. It marked Minten’s first NHL game since Dec. 14 against Detroit, and the 12th game of the season for him. In a year that started with him on the sidelines before getting promoted to the show after just four games in the AHL, it’s been a whirlwind season for the 20-year-old forward.
Minten entered Monday’s game riding a three-game point streak with the Toronto Marlies. So when Max Pacioretty went down with an injury on Saturday, Minten became the obvious choice to get called up.
Since we last saw him in the NHL, Minten has upped his point total to 10 points in 16 games. That’s outside the top 10 in team scoring, but he’s one of the Marlies’ best players-per-60 – and someone they felt could easily fill in on a line with Nick Robertson and Max Domi. Minten had an excellent first period, which nearly resulted in a goal on a 2-on-1 with Domi. In fact, that line had five shots on net in the opening stanza without allowing one themselves.
The line ultimately got out-Corsi’d, but not outshot. Overall, it was still a solid showing for the newly formed line.
“I thought he played a solid game for us,” coach Craig Berube said after the game. “That line did us some good things, had energy at times, and had some chances. They were pretty good. He was solid. It was his first game back, and it has been a while. To me, he was in the right position all night. Pretty solid all-around game from him. I was happy with him.”
Minten doesn’t generate offense with pure skill. Instead, it’s a hard-working style where he dedicates himself to winning every puck battle possible. He skates well, hits hard, and plays a solid two-way game.
He can also play the power play, and Berube had him be the net-front presence on Monday. While the second PP unit didn’t produce, he still did a decent job of taking away Jonas Johansson’s eyesight and battling for rebounds.
Minten is at his best when he’s doing the work to make his linemates better. He’s not a game-breaker by any means. But he’s a multifaceted forward who can play whatever role asked of him. He should be capable of stepping up higher occasionally if paired with a lethal shooter, too.
That’s what made last night’s third line so interesting. You’ve got a setup guy in Domi, a shooter in Robertson and an all-around threat in Minten. And what’s been really promising is Minten’s overall play in the NHL – he doesn’t look out of place. That’s why the Leafs wanted him in the first place: he was never going to be a big-time points guy. Instead, it’s all about the things he does away from the puck to get it, and that makes him an excellent support player, no matter who he skates with.
There’s an argument to be made that Minten should still spend the majority of the season with the Marlies. He’s young, and the Leafs don’t need to rush him. But he continues to find ways to help the team win, and that can’t be ignored. It’s a great sign that he’s the one the team keeps calling up when they need an injury replacement, and it doesn’t seem to matter who he plays with.
Leafs fans have to like what they’re seeing.
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