Toronto Maple Leafs prospect returns to practice, but where will he play?

The Toronto Maple Leafs top center prospect Fraser Minten was seen returning to on-ice activities on Thursday morning with the development staff ahead of the team's optional practice.

Minten, who was drafted in the second round, 38th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft shocked everyone with his progression when he came to training camp in 2023 that not only had him stay until the very end, but garnered him a spot on the opening night roster as the third center.

The Vancouver native, would get to play four games with the big club, however, with cap restraints early in the season he was sent back Kamloops of the Western Hockey League, where he would be traded to the Saskatoon Blades a few weeks later.

After captaining Team Canada the World Junior Championships in last year's tournament, Minten was expected to get another long look in training camp this season where he may have been able to compete for a spot on the Maple Leafs roster, however, an injury during the prospects tournament snuffed out that opportunity.

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect returns to practice, but where will he play?

During a game against the Montreal Canadiens prospects, he took a dirty cross check from behind from a Habs rookie that sent him awkwardly into the boards causing a high ankle sprain. The injury forced him to miss the entirety of the actual Maple Leafs training camp and he is just now returning to the ice more than a month later.

Unfortunately for fans, there is no clear timetable for his return, but Joshua Kloke reported that Craig Berube said that the rookie is "getting close".

With Minten getting close to returning, general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube will need to make a decision on where to send one of their top prospects. The Maple Leafs are right up against the salary cap and that is without acknowledging the fact Calle Järnkrok, Connor Dewar and Jani Hakanpää who are all currently on LTIR are getting closer to returning.

If the team wants to add Minten on a trial basis to the active roster a player would need to be sent to the Marlies and the only two players that are waiver exempt are Matthew Knies and Dennis Hildeby. At this time both for salary cap reasons and for his development the Baby Leafs looks to be where Minten will start the season, but it is not out of the realm of possibilities to see him recalled later this season.