‘There’s Lots Of Opportunity In The Lineup’: Fraser Minten Ready To Be A Difference Maker In Maple Leafs Season Debut Against Golden Knights

Fraser Minten finds himself in acquainted territory once more: Making his Toronto Maple Leafs season debut early within the yr.

This time, nevertheless, his stint with the NHL membership might last more than 4 video games, which he had final season.

“It is thrilling. It will be a enjoyable one,” the 20-year-old mentioned on Wednesday morning. “Vegas is a extremely good group and there is a number of alternative within the lineup tonight, so I am trying ahead to it.”

Minten was known as as much as the Maple Leafs on Tuesday morning after it was introduced that David Kampf could be happening injured reserve (now on long-term injured reserve) with an upper-body damage.

Associated: David Kampf Will Be Out Till At Least Mid-December With Decrease-Physique Harm As Maple Leafs Transfer Ahead To Lengthy-Time period Injured Reserve (LTIR) Amid Roster Shuffle

Toronto’s prospect has performed 5 video games this season with the Toronto Marlies — scoring two targets and two assists — after recovering from a high-ankle sprain he suffered throughout September’s Prospect Showdown in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens.

Minten has performed most of his video games within the Marlies’ prime six, alongside Nikita Grebenkin, who’s set to make his NHL debut on Wednesday, and Alex Nylander. Minten has additionally been closely relied upon throughout key conditions, like the ability play and penalty kill.

He was doing so effectively that Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving hesitated earlier than calling the ahead as much as the NHL.

“Nicely, to be completely trustworthy with you, I might have most well-liked to depart him down there for a bit bit longer simply to stabilize. I feel you have to watch out, particularly with younger guys, bumping them up and down. He is coming off the damage, however he is had a fantastic begin,” Treliving mentioned.

“He is a wise, good participant. I imply, what jumps out is simply his hockey IQ. He talks on the bench like a coach. And you’ve got seen that even within the begin that he is had with the Marlies. He is actually clever, sees the ice, is aware of the sport.

“Like I mentioned, he had a tricky damage to recover from. He missed plenty of time, however he is been off to a fantastic begin down there. So we’ll give him a looksy right here and we expect he is acquired a fantastic future in entrance of him.”

Minten performed 4 video games with Toronto final season earlier than being returned to the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. It has been 13 months since his final NHL sport and now he’ll have one other likelihood to show he belongs with the large membership.

” what to anticipate a bit extra, you understand that it is simply hockey. It is a bit quicker and stronger and [players] are on the prime of their video games,” Minten mentioned of what he might take from his final stint within the NHL to this one.

“But it surely’s nonetheless simply one other sport and also you gotta go on the market and be assured and know you can make performs and make a distinction.”