Maple Leafs Prospect Fraser Minten Keen on 'Making The Most' of Second Traverse City Prospects Tournament
The 19-year-old forward will begin his fourth season with the WHL's Kamloops Blazers this fall.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Fraser Minten, 15 months after being drafted in the second round by the Maple Leafs, is continuing to hone in on his leadership skills.
Toronto took to the ice on Thursday for their first of three games at the Traverse City Prospects Tournament. And although it was a 7-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets prospects, Minten was still able to showcase his skills and enjoy the game.
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"It was fun. I had a lot of fun. The result was obviously unideal," he said. "(My) first, really, competitive hockey game in three months for myself and (I) really enjoyed it."
Minten centred Toronto's top line with fellow prospects Matthew Knies and Ty Voit — two players who will begin their first full pro season this fall. It can be a lot of pressure to be in the limelight with the Maple Leafs, but Minten understands what these tournaments can do to help his career.
"Just making the most of these opportunities," he said regarding what he'll take away from this tournament.
"You don't get too many in your life where all these high-level teams and people are watching you, so just trying to put my best foot forward and show everyone who's here what I can do and help the team try and come out on top."
At Maple Leafs development camp earlier this summer, the 19-year-old said he wanted to take on a larger leadership role with Kamloops this fall.
Minten was an alternate captain last season, but it looks like there could be an opportunity for more this year as he wore a 'C' during a WHL preseason game.
Even Marlies head coach Jon Gruden (who's coaching the Maple Leafs prospects in Traverse City) can see the leadership skills coming to the forefront.
"I thought Minten was outstanding," Gruden said following Toronto's first game on Thursday. "Not only on the ice, but I thought he was great on the bench. (He was) positive, made sure that guys were still engaging and part of it. I was really impressed with his leadership skills."
Minten, following development camp, spent a couple more weeks in Toronto with the staff before heading home to Vancouver to spend some time with his family. He says that while he was working on some of his offensive game, he worked on his skating too.
Development camp, the prospects tournament, and everything in between all lead to one thing: Maple Leafs training camp which begins in about a week's time.
The 19-year-old will be in attendance and he says this tournament helps him to be ready for both the NHL camp and for what could be his final season with the Blazers.
"It helps a lot," Minten said. "Especially as a younger guy, like, showing good here and getting comfortable, getting the cardio up a little bit. If you get invited to the main camp after, it helps a lot just with being more game-ready and (it) eases you into that high-end competition a little bit better for sure."
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