Toronto Maple Leafs: Fraser Minten Making Case to Stay in the NHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs – and the rest of the hockey world – were shocked when 19 year-old former second-round draft pick Fraser Minten made the team out of training camp.

Though conventional wisdom says the Toronto Maple Leafs will send him back to junior after a nine game audition (because their is an unjustified mania about burning a year of team control, and because NHL teams tend to baby all non-blue-chip prospects) Minten is making a case to stay.

It is unquestionably ridiculous to make a professional hockey player waste a year playing against kids, most of whom have no chance of ever playing in the NHL, so sending him back after nine games shouldn’t be automatic.

Especially since he’s earning a permanent place on the team with his play.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Fraser Minten Making Case to Stay in the NHL

In the first game of the season, vs the Montreal Canadiens, Minten (and Knies) struggled. Perhaps it was nerves, or pressure, or just the insanity of an opening night against the Habs, either way, they’ve been a lot better in each of the last two games.

Against the Minnesota Wild Minten was much better. He played 14 minutes, and in a game where almost the entire team lost their minutes, the Leafs third line won theirs.  They out-possessed their opponent, had a goal, didn’t allow one, and had three dangerous chances to the one they allowed.

It wasn’t just a great rebound game, it was incredibly impressive because most of the rest of the team struggled.

Two nights ago, against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost their first game of the season, but that wasn’t on Minten.

He only played for 10 minutes (because the team was playing from behind) but he won his minutes by both puck-possession and expected goals.

In three games, despite one of them being awful (and excusable), he has a 50% Corsi (puck-possession), the team has broken even (one goal scored, one allowed) and he has a positive Expected Goals rating. (naturalstattrick.com).

On a competitive team, with designs on the Stanley Cup.

He’s outplaying fellow rookie Matthew Knies.

He is outplaying Max Domi (and being used more).

Six Toronto Maple Leafs – none of them named Fraser Minten – have Expected Goals ratings below 50%.  That is one-third of the team.

And that means that Minten is one of their 12 best players.

You know what you don’t do? Send your 12th best player back to junior.

If Fraswer Minten continues his strong play, he’s going to stick in the NHL longer than nine games.  Sure, he has zero points and only two shots, but it’s his play away from the puck that really makes him good anyways.

Instead of sending him back to junior, the Leafs might consider playing him with one of their stars.