( Photo Credit: Providence Bruins / Tessa McAndrews )

By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky

As the 2025 National Hockey League Trade Deadline approached, Boston Bruins’ General Manager made a huge move by trading defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In return, the Bruins received top prospect Fraser Minten and a 2026 first-round draft pick. This trade caught many Leafs fans off guard, as they had been looking forward to Minten joining the team in the near future. While some Bruins fans were skeptical about exchanging a proven defenseman like Carlo for a prospect and a draft pick, the trade is starting to look like a solid decision.

Fraser Minten was a second-round pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2022 National Hockey League Draft. A native of Vancouver, he spent his junior hockey years in the Western Hockey League (WHL) playing for the Kamloops Blazers and the Saskatoon Blades. In his final season with the Blazers, Minten served as captain and recorded an impressive 7-3-10 in just seven games before being traded to the Blades. His performance in Saskatoon was remarkable, as he posted 19-19-38 in 36 games, averaging over a point per game with both teams during that season.

Minten’s outstanding play and leadership earned him a spot on Team Canada for the 2023 World Junior Championship, where he played alongside his Providence Bruins teammate, Matthew Poitras. Unfortunately, the team experienced a heartbreaking loss in the quarter-finals to Czechia. Despite this setback, Minten had an impressive tournament, captaining the Canadian squad and contributing 1-2-3 in five games on the world stage.

Fraser began this season with the Maple Leafs in the NHL, where he recorded 2-2-4 in 15 games. He was then sent to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Minten took some time to adjust to the AHL but scored 6-7-13 points in 26 games. However, a significant concern was his minus-10 rating during that time, which was the third worst on the team. Luckily for both parties, while the trade was going down, the Toronto Marlies were at the Amica Mutual Pavillion in Providence, preparing for a game against the Baby Bs.

Minten’s first game occurred a week later when the P-Bruins traveled to Toronto to face the Marlies. During the broadcast, the Toronto coach spoke highly of their former prospect, citing his character and versatility as aspects the Maple Leafs organization would miss. The Kamloops product is undoubtedly adaptable, playing on both the first power play and penalty-killing units. Although he didn’t score in his first few games with the team, he found his rhythm in a match against the Springfield Thunderbirds.

In that game, Minten scored a hat trick, with all goals coming from net-front positions, and he also added an assist on Riley Duran’s goal. This outstanding performance earned him the title of AHL Player of the Day. As a result, Bruins fans grew excited about the young prospect, while Leafs fans became frustrated about his departure.

Fraser Minten brings a lot to the table, and his game has several attributes to look forward to. First, his physicality stands out; he is a strong player who isn’t afraid to engage along the boards, making him an excellent penalty killer. Additionally, the former Team Canada Captain possesses an incredible shot that hasn’t been fully showcased since his arrival, but his one-timer is something opposing goalies should fear.

Lastly, Minten is brilliant on the ice. While he may not rely on speed, his awareness of the net is remarkable. He scored all three goals against Springfield by exploiting gaps in the defense, allowing him to find prime scoring opportunities easily. Boston Bruins fans should be excited about Fraser carving out a full-time role with the team.

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