Brad Treliving Explains Decision to Demote Top Prospect Fraser Minten to the Marlies
Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving explained the demotion of top rookie forward Fraser Minten to the Marlies, and why he believes it's best for him.
Despite burning the first year of Fraser Minten's NHL rookie contract, playing him over the minimum amount of games to activate his contract at nine games played, the Toronto Maple Leafs still sent Minten down.
It's unfortunate for Minten however his GM gave his explanation as to why the rookie faced a demotion.
According to Treliving, the decision to send Minten down was to give him chances to play regularly in the AHL, which the GM says is more beneficial than being a continuous healthy scratch in the NHL.
If you saw the last few games (he played in), he started to taper a little bit.
And then last game, when he's not in the lineup, Craig controls the lineup card.
We obviously talk about it, but, if you're not going to be in, and you're a young player, you gotta keep playing, right? We're not gonna sit him in the stands."
Minten was a healthy scratch for Toronto in Sunday's 5-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres and now heads back down to the AHL having had four points in five games for the Marlies this season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs did not make a corresponding move with the demotion of Minten, but it is expected that forward David Kampf will return to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup for the team's next game against the Dallas Stars.
Kampf has not played since mid-November due to a lower-body injury.
Minten has two goals and four points in 11 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season and provided a small spark to Toronto's bottom half.
Minten is a second round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, 38th overall. Minten has played 15 career NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, having played four games with Toronto last season but did not register a point.
Some fans and analysts felt despite Kampf's veteran experience that Minten is the one more suited to produce offensively than Kampf, who is a defensive-minded center.
For now, Fraser Minten will head back down to the minors, not as a punishment as Brad Treliving as stressed, but to give Minten the best opportunity to get minutes.
It's the perfect chance to continue to showcase the potential that could eventually earn him a full-time NHL role with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
