Why Fraser Minten Hasn't Been Able to Re-Enter the Maple Leafs Lineup
Toronto's top prospect from the 2022 NHL Draft will be a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game when his team visits the Dallas Stars
DALLAS — Fraser Minten will be a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Thursday.
The 19-year-old center surprised many when he won a spot on the Maple Leafs out of training camp, but after the team's 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers to open the club's five-game road trip, Minten has been the lone healthy scratch on the roster.
So when will Toronto's second-round selection (38th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft see action again?
According to Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, they appear to be in a wait-and-see mode after Pontus Holmberg entered the lineup on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"We like what Holmberg has brought and how that’s changed things and that’s part of it," Keefe said. "We’ve had some guys here that have sort of been nicked up on this trip and kind of day-to-day or at least on the injury report you’re kind of waiting on their status the next morning and I was just saying today that we’ve kind of got through that situation. So there hasn’t been an opportunity for Fraser to get back in at this stage."
Holmberg's insertion into the lineup came as they promoted David Kampft to the third line. In that first game under this lineup, Kampf found chemistry with Matthew Knies and Max Domi and the Leafs seem reluctant to give that up. While Minten played in all three games on the third line.
If the Maple Leafs reach a point where they don't feel it's best for Minten to stick around, they'd have to return him to the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League. With only four games played, the Maple Leafs could return Minten without burning a year of eligibility in his entry-level deal. Certainly being a healthy scratch helps the Leafs extend their window with Minten.
Even though he isn't playing in any games as of late, Keefe feels Minten is getting some benefit with being up with the Leafs.
"There’s lots of value in him being around our group here on a trip like this in particular and experience life in the NHL like that," Keefe said. "He’s continue to work with the reps that he does get, he’s putting in his time."
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