The pair of Maple Leafs prospects have impressed head coach Sheldon Keefe during pre-season play.

The Toronto Maple Leafs embarked on their annual pre-season retreat to Gravenhurst, Ontario for some team bonding and forward prospect Fraser Minten is among the invitees.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe revealed that the 19-year-old will join most of the players for the two-day event. 

Toronto's second-round selection (38th overall) in the 2022 NHL draft, Minten has performed well in training camp, scoring a goal and adding three assists in four pre-season games, putting in third in team scoring.

"We were excited about him when we got him in the draft, but from what I have seen of his development from last year until now, it has been remarkable," Keefe said of Minten.

It's inevitable that Minten will be returned to the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL before the regular season, but that won't deter the player who has earmarked representing Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Juniors as a goal for the upcoming season.

Easton Cowan has also impressed the Leafs with his play. However, he will stick behind with a select group of players that will not go to Gravenhurst.

"When we come back (from Gravenhurst) Cowan will join us, he's not going anywhere," Keefe said yesterday following the Leafs' 5-4 OT loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.

Toronto's first-round selection (28th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, Cowan has impressed the Leafs with his ability to hound pucks and high-energy style of play. He has one goal and two assists in three pre-season games.

Minten and Cowan have been rooming together since camp began so it's not at all surprising to see both players' success bouncing off each other in such a short period of time.

Like Minten, Cowan will likely be sent back to his junior team before the regular season begins. But with two preseason games remaining, it wouldn't be a surprise to see both players dress in those before going back.

The Maple Leafs make their third consecutive getaway to Gravenhurst, a tradition that began in 2021. It's not unusual for some players to attend while others stay back to do work on skills back at the team's practice facility in Etobicoke, Ontario.

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