After being caught in the shuffle between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies, forward Fraser Minten has finally found his rhythm, emerging as the Bruins' most impactful trade of the season.
In the Behind the B: Fraser Minten returns home, Minten traces his passion for the game back to his 7th birthday. Even then, his competitive drive was clear; instead of a typical party, he insisted on a road hockey game so he could finally test his skills against other kids.
For a kid growing up in Vancouver, Minten credits the back-to-back energy of the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals for driving not only him, but also other kids in the city to achieve their dreams.
With a laugh, his mother, Chantal, admitted the transition to Boston has been "tough" due to the lingering bitterness in Vancouver over the 2011 Game 7 loss. She lightheartedly noted that local fans are "still salty" about the Bruins' historic victory, finding the irony of her son joining the old rival more amusing than anything else.
His mother reminisces back to when the pandemic started, Minten's motivation to play never faded despite the lockdowns. She revealed how Minten would drag a hockey net that he got for free on Craigslist to Rogers Arena in his rollerblades, and play there with himself or some friends.
Minten's passion for hockey never faded, even when the streets of Vancouver were empty.
Minten joined the West Van Academy Prep, where he played alongside NHL star Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks, and was then drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft by the Kamloops Blazers for the 2020-21 season where he rose up from the fourth line to the third line.
By the time the world began to reopen two years later, Fraser Minten was selected 38th overall in the second round of the 2022 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs and signed a three-year entry-level contract on October 13, 2022.
His skills and passion turned heads during the 2023 training camp, earning him a spot on the Maple Leafs' opening night roster. He made his NHL debut on October 11, 2023 in a successful 6–5 shootout over Montreal, experiencing a lifelong dream before getting sent back to the Kamloops Blazers.
The @MapleLeafs have recalled D William Lagesson from the @TorontoMarlies.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) October 27, 2023
F Fraser Minten has been reassigned to the Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Minten had matured into a true leader, wearing the 'C' for Kamloops Blazers and putting up ten points in a lightning-fast start. However, his journey took a turn on November 24, when a blockbuster trade sent him to the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for Jordan Keller and four draft picks on November 24, 2023.
During the Saskatoon Blades' 2024 playoff push, Minten elevated his game, racking up eight goals and 14 points across 16 postseason matches. His leadership helped propel the Blades to the third round, where their championship dreams were finally cut short by the eventual league-winning Moose Jaw Warriors.
Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Minten suffered a high ankle sprain in an exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens in September 2024 that sidelined him for the entirety of training camp. After being activated from IR on October 2024, he was assigned to the Toronto Marlies.
He didn’t waste a second of the opportunity. Just one day after his call-up, Minten beat Adin Hill to net his first career NHL goal against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Minten carried with him 2 goals, 2 assists and 4 points through 15 games, before he was traded by the Maple Leafs on March 7, 2025 with a 2026 first-round pick (top-five protected) and a 2025 fourth-round pick in exchange for defenseman Brandon Carlo.
Minten was immediately assigned to the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence, and in his second game, Minted recorded a hat trick and an assist in the team's 4-1 win against the Springfield Thunderbirds.
After 10 games in Providence, achieving three goals and four assists, Minten was called up to Boston on April 5, and made his debut with the Bruins that night against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Fraser Minten scored his first goal as a Bruin on April 8, 2025, helping the team secure a 7-2 win against the New Jersey Devils. With the Bruins eliminated from the 2025 Playoffs, Minten returned to Providence shortly after to help the AHL team with their playoff run where he recorded 2 assists and 2 points.
As of Friday, after 51 games, Fraser Minten has recorded 12 goals with 11 assists, carrying 23 points and tying him with Casey Mittelstadt for 7th among the Bruins' top skaters so far this season.
They say some players are born for the spotlight, while others have to build it for themselves. Fraser Minten did both. From the asphalt of Vancouver to the bright lights of the NHL. He left Toronto looking for an opportunity, and he found something better in Boston: a purpose.
For the Vancouverite who once just wanted 'some competition' for his 7th birthday, the search is over. He hasn't just found competition; he’s become it.