What Could The Maple Leafs Do To Justify Trading Away Fraser Minten?
Boston Bruins rookie Fraser Minten is shining this season, while the player he was traded for – veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo – hasn't found his stride in Toronto. How can Leafs GM Brad Treliving salvage this lopsided trade?
Video Transcript
Toronto Maple Leaf fans would say, "Of course," when it comes to Fraser Mitten doing what he's doing.
And, you know, I've liked him since he was a second-round pick, by the Leafs in, I think it was 2022. you know, he's, a smart kid.
He was t- he- Team Canada's, captain at the World Juniors.
every grade of every expert said he sort of topped out at maybe a third line center.
Now he scored 14 goals.
You know, I think he's a perfect fit with the Bruins.
He's good defensively, he's really smart.
I just don't think he's gonna be a top-line center.
I mean, best case scenario, he's between a two and a three, and he probably scores 20 to 25 goals.
But you're getting that out of a guy on his entry-level contract, as well as a top five protected, from the Leafs' perspective, first-round pick for Brandon Carlo, who has had some issues in Toronto in terms of injury.
that was a deal probably if the Leafs had to do, to do it over again, they probably wouldn't.
But I don't know whether Fraser Mitten would be the Fraser Mitten that he's doing right now if he'd been playing under Craig Berube in Toronto, who probably would have him down with the Marlies.
So, I'm, I'm happy for the kid, and, he's making Maple Leaf fans miserable right now.
Adam, what do you make of this season that Mitten is having so far?
I mean, I, I, I'm not shy about saying how much I like Fraser Mitten as a hockey player, you know.
I even got, in trouble with Bruins fans earlier in the year for suggesting when Bruins were in on Kiefer Sherwood, that if they are gonna get a prospect back, you gotta swing for Fraser Mitten 'cause that's exactly who you need.
But I mean, like, what more Like, he's, he's in the conversation for Rookie of the Year now.
like, that's a, that's a, I, I, I heard on the radio here in Vancouver people were saying it was like the, it's like the Tuukka Rask trade, with, Toronto years ago.
But I mean, you know, just looking at Minton, there, there must be something, special in that water up in Kamloops because Fraser Mitten, Logan Stankoven, Emmet Feeney, Harrison Bruncke, like, you know, that's a, those, those are four pretty good, players who all have NHL experience now and have arguably, like, overplayed their draft position.
so, from a WHO perspective, it's awesome to see Fraser Mitten, excel.
Like, I, I've talked to him a couple times when he was in the dub.
He's very thoughtful.
He's, he understands w- what his role is.
He understands his game.
He, he's one of those players that's like, "I'm just gonna keep it simple, like, I'm not gonna try to overthink a lot of stuff."
And that's what you need when you're a rookie.
So, I mean, this is a home run for the Boston Bruins, and yeah, I, I think he is, he is a middle six center.
Like, he might be a top-line center if the Boston Bruins, like, bought him out.
But, like, he is a player that can probably get you 20 goals, 45 points, and in the future is gonna be a key part of their penalty kill.
