C Fraser Minten
A lot of times, it can be hard to move a player that has shown great promise and potential.
Especially in the case for rookie Fraser Minten, who finally had a decent run with the Leafs so far this season. When Toronto ran into some injury woes that affected their center depth, Minten was summoned from the Marlies to help out the club. He sure gave a strong first impression with the Leafs, as he compiled 2 goals and 4 points in his first five games of the season.
However, as he struggled a bit in the proceeding matches, along with the eventual return of players from the IR, Minten eventually found himself back with the Marlies for more growth and development in his game. When the Leafs ran into more injuries in recent days, Minten found himself back with the big club again.
But with the trade deadline approaching in a little more than a month’s time, the Maple Leafs will be looking to bolster their roster for the playoff run. To add impactful players, they will need to surrender either draft picks or some high-end prospects. If the Leafs are looking to hold onto as many picks as possible, then they will need to make some of their top young players available in trade talks.
With Easton Cowan likely untouchable given his high ceiling, Minten will become the unfortunate casualty as being the next best prospect in the organization.
Especially now having showed that he could hold his own at the NHL level, he has become an even more enticing trade chip. As a result, it will be a tough pill to swallow, but to get the Leafs to the next level, losing Minten will be a sacrifice that they need to make.