Minten has scored one goal and two assists in three games to start his AHL career with the Marlies.

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten has hit the ground running in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies.

The forward, coming off a high-ankle sprain suffered during the Prospect Showdown against the Montreal Canadiens, made his AHL debut in a 4-3 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Nov. 9. 

Eight minutes into the game, Minten registered an assist on Logan Shaw's goal. It was the start of the 20-year-old's journey at the professional level which already has him with points in three straight games.

"It’s been pretty good. Just playing my game, like, being a guy the coach can trust, be versatile, reliable, working back hard and then trying to get up the ice, hold onto pucks, make plays, and just play a good all-around game," Minten said in a one-on-one interview on Friday. "Nothing special."

When Minten was fully cleared to return, there were questions about how he'd look at the AHL level. Even more so after coming off a high-ankle sprain, which some players say is difficult to rebound from.

But the forward has shown how good of a player he can be at both ends of the rink. And during Wednesday's game (his third of the season) against the Cleveland Monsters, lined up between Nikita Grebenkin and Alex Nylander, Minten registered his first professional goal.

"He plays the right way. He plays 200 feet, stops on pucks, physical, big guy, and he’s a winner. Playing on Team Canada last year as well," Marlies head coach John Gruden said after Friday's practice. 

"He understands the game. Having that has actually been good for (Nikita) Grebenkin and (Alex) Nylander as well."

The Maple Leafs drafted Minten in the second round (38th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. Toronto liked the center's all-around game at both ends of the rink. The organization also favoured Minten's leadership and determination.

Gruden, who coached the forward during last year's Traverse City Prospects Tournament, and the Prospect Showdown in Montreal, is getting to witness Minten's hockey smarts.

"He’s probably, besides Logan Shaw, probably one of the next closest guys to being a coach after Logan," Gruden said. "He just has a lot of good qualities. He’s a sponge. You usually only have to tell him once. It’s a good quality to have, especially as a 20-year-old."

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Shaw, the captain of Toronto's AHL club since Dec. 2022, agreed with Gruden's assessment of Minten.

"I think he’s very smart. He knows the game. He’s fun to talk to in the dressing room and talk about plays, talk about the power play and PK. He reads the game really well and it’s nice to talk to (him)," Shaw said. 

"It honestly feels like he’s been around for a while. It’s hard to believe he’s only played a couple of pro games. But, I’m looking forward to seeing what he does throughout his whole career."

Minten chops having all those qualities down to loving hockey.

"I think it’s just passion for the game, honestly. It’s not intentional or anything," he said. "It’s just I get out there and it’s fun for me to talk and go home, love watching games, and I don’t know, hockey’s just fun for me and always has been, so that’s just been a part of it."

Minten's professional career is just getting started. Although he played four games with the Maple Leafs last season, the forward understands what's needed to reach the next level again.

After three games of playing in the Marlies' top six, and in most situations for the club, Minten has one goal and two assists. It's a strong start production-wise, but the forward believes there's more there.

That's what Minten hopes to see from himself long-term with AHL Toronto.

"My goal’s to continue to get better and hopefully I can do that. I believe I can do that," Minten said. 

"The more games you get, the more comfortable you’ll get with the team, the players you’re playing with, the systems we run and the coaches and everything. So, (I’m) expecting, and hoping, that I continue to progress.”