Leafs' preseason standout Fraser Minten makes opening night roster

Most Canadian kids can only dream of making it to the NHL but Fraser Minten will realize that goal before his 20th birthday.

Minten revealed that Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving called him Sunday evening to inform him that he made the team. The dynamic 19-year-old forward will make his debut Wednesday when the Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.

“It means everything. It’s been a dream of mine for as long as I’ve been alive and playing hockey to be in a position like this,” Minten told reporters Monday.

Minten was selected 38th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, where the Maple Leafs had graded him as a first-round talent. Toronto traded Petr Mrazek and its 2022 first-round pick to Chicago in exchange for the No. 38 pick, which it used to select Minten. It’s too soon for a verdict but Minten’s rapid ascension to the NHL could make him one of the steals of the 2022 class.

On draft night, Minten was compared to Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson for his versatility and two-way responsibility. Growing up in Vancouver, Minten modeled his game after former Canucks captain and current New York Islanders star Bo Horvat.

"You can just see the smile on his face and just beaming with excitement,” Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said of Minten’s promotion, via Sports Illustrated’s David Alter. “He's earned the opportunity. Extremely happy for him."

Minten recorded 31 goals and 67 points in 57 games with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers last season. Prior to training camp, Minten said his goal was to make Canada’s World Juniors team and if he doesn’t stay with the Maple Leafs past an initial nine-game tryout, he’ll almost certainly be a top-six staple of this year’s entrant.

During Monday’s practice, Minten centered a line with Matthew Knies and Calle Jarnkrok flanking him. Knies and Minten have been nearly unstoppable when paired together and are the leaders of the Maple Leafs’ next wave of forwards.

Toronto has struggled to internally develop secondary talent around its homegrown stars and Minten’s graduation will be seen as a welcome relief, particularly around a cap-strapped team laser-focused on winning a Stanley Cup in the immediate window. Minten will be asked to generate secondary offense but even when he doesn’t show up on the scoresheet, he’s an exceptionally smart player who tenaciously forechecks and works to extend plays in the offensive zone.

He’ll need to improve as a skater but his spatial sense and hockey intelligence ought to translate well at the professional level and if he’s eventually returned to Kamloops, he’ll emerge as one of the WHL’s top scorers.

Leafs make adds to staff

In subsequent news, the Maple Leafs announced defenseman Jake Muzzin will be taking on a new role as a pro scout. Muzzin hasn’t officially retired and his $5.625-million salary for the 2023-24 season will count in the team’s long-term injured reserve pool.

Former Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis McElhinney has been promoted to director of goaltending development and scouting.