Kamloops Blazers Deal Fraser Minten To Saskatoon Blades

The Kamloops Blazers have traded their captain and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten to the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for forward Jordan Keller, two first-round picks and a fourth. Minten now joins a Blades team that currently sits second in the Eastern Conference and has their sights on returning to the Eastern Final for the second straight season. With the trade, he will also be reunited with fellow Leafs prospect Brandon Lisowsky, who was a seventh-round pick by Toronto in the 2022 NHL Draft. 

As for Kamloops, this trade allows them to restock some of the draft picks they traded away last season. They receive a first and a fourth in next year's draft, as well as a first in 2025. On top of the draft picks, the Blazers also received some depth up front in Keller. The 2005-born forward has 39 points in 97 career regular-season games at the WHL level and returns to Kamloops, where he played his minor hockey. 

The question now for Saskatoon is whether will they make another move prior to the trade deadline. They have already brought in Easton Armstrong, Grayden Siepmann, Rhett Melnyk and Carter Herman this season and have built one of the deepest teams in the WHL. General manager Colin Priestner has been busy but still has some time to make another big splash if he so desires. 

As for the Blazers, this trade signals that they are open for business when it comes to trade. After dealing most of their draft picks away last season, it looks as though general manager Shaun Clouston is looking to stockpile picks heading into the 2024 draft. With some intriguing pieces like Dylan Ernst, Connor Levis and Shea Van Olm, this will most likely not be the only move Kamloops makes before the deadline.