Minten had a goal, five hits (the third-most on Toronto) and played 13:05 of ice time in the Maple Leafs' win over Chicago.

Fraser Minten is beginning to feel comfortable at the NHL level with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It's been five games for the 20-year-old forward, and he's been a solid contributor to Toronto's bottom six, scoring two goals — one in Toronto's 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks — and two assists since being recalled from the Toronto Marlies.

It wasn't the easiest start to the season for Minten. In September, he suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Montreal Canadiens at the Prospects Showdown which forced him to miss the first month of the season.

One month later, though, the young forward is finding his footing in the NHL and even had a big goal for Toronto, restoring their two-goal lead in the third period against the Blackhawks.

"Yeah, for sure. He's getting more comfortable, I think, up here in the NHL," Maple Leafs head coach said on Monday night. "Just from his injury and everything, I think he's starting to feel comfortable. I thought the line was really good tonight for us, and he was very good."

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When Minten was asked about his goal post-game, he said the team spoke in the intermission about how Chicago was playing collapsed and tight. Toronto then capitalized on that in the third period after the Blackhawks pulled closer.

Berube, who's been impressed with how Minten has played early, raved on Monday night about how the young forward goes about his business during the game.

"Oh, he's excellent. He talks really like a vet on the bench. He's already got that mindset and mentality and knows the game extremely well," Berube said. 

"He's not a guy you've got to really teach a whole lot to. I mean, it's just he needs reps. And because he understands the game, he understands his systems very well, and, he has a very good hockey IQ."

Minten, alongside Nick Robertson and Steven Lorentz, generated a 37.44 xGF% at five-on-five against Chicago, the best of Toronto's four lines, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

All three players were on the ice for Minten's goal.

"They're really good players. They're fast, they check hard, so they make it easy," Minten said on Monday. "They play simple hockey, and it's easy to fit in with them."

The young forward was slated to play most of the season with the Marlies, however, injuries to key players forced the Maple Leafs' hand. Toronto had no other choice but to call Minten up, and through five games, it looks like he could stay with the NHL club even once the injured players return.

He's smart, reliable at both ends of the rink, and can finish scoring chances: The perfect recipe for a player in Toronto's bottom six forward rotation.

"I just think he's such a cerebral player. He's very smart, and I think his hockey IQ definitely jumps out," Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said on Monday. 

"When you watch him play, maybe not the fastest guy, not the biggest and strongest guy, but I just think the way he's able to adapt his game for what the situation presents, I think that just really stands out to me. He's been playing great for us."

Already, it looks like Toronto got a good player with their second-round (38th overall) pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Minten has now played more games than he did last season with Toronto, and it's fairly clear he's grown as a player from last year to this one.

He's also got four more points to his name.

"I mean, I think I'm the same kind of player, just older, stronger, a little bit better at everything, I guess," Minten said, "but fundamentally, same person, same player."