The Toronto Maple Leafs Don't Need to Trade for a Third-Line Center, They Already Have One

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Chris Gerics
October 29, 2024 (11:46)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs' need for a true third-line center is evident, and with John Tavares back on the second line: Is it time for Fraser Minten to step in?

Toronto finally got the monkey off their back on Monday, coming into Winnipeg and handing the Jets their first loss of the season after a complete turnaround, with former captain John Tavares netting a hat-trick after being put back on the second line. His linemates also had three points apiece and looked rejuvenated together in a huge boost to the Maple Leafs' morale.

Toronto still needs more depth down the middle, as Max Domi and David Kampf aren't it right now. Domi is serviceable but plays better on the wing when he has someone who can help facilitate the offense and do more of the grittier work to allow Domi to flourish. There's been speculation about a potential trade with several GM's and scouts recently looking at the Maple Leafs' roster, and with teams like Utah needing pieces Toronto has, they may be willing to part with someone like Nick Bjugstad.

But what if Toronto doesn't need to look outside their system when they have an energetic, young, hungry prospect waiting in the wings?

Enter Fraser Minten

Fraser Minten was going to make the NHL team this season, there is no doubt about it. Of all of the other Maple Leafs prospects, Minten was the most NHL-ready and provided the Maple Leafs with a youthful presence with an ever-improving 200-foot game at a time they needed it. Unfortunately, an ankle injury suffered during the Prospect Showcase derailed those plans, and Minten has been recovering ever since.

In his very short sample size, Minten hasn't done anything particularly impressive but what sticks out already is his faceoff percentage. Winning nearly 50% of his faceoffs as a rookie is solid, and he's only going to improve on that. If Toronto wants to make their third line a mix of grit and goals, look no further than Minten to help with that. Domi and Minten are both playmakers and while McMann isn't a scorer, he's capable; evident by the nine he scored last season. He could push double-digit goals with Minten and Domi, and provide the physicality needed to let them fly.

Toronto could also employ McMann on the fourth line and have Nick Robertson line up with Domi and Minten which would provide Toronto with essentially another second-line option with the potential for each player to score 40+ points in a bottom-six role; a massive boost to Toronto's playoff chances.

His career in junior hockey has been phenomenal so far, and in addition to having 22 goals and 26 assists in 43 games was a menace in the playoffs for Saskatoon, having 8 goals and 14 points in 16 games. In his four-year WHL career, Minten has 77 goals and 111 assists in 187 games and provided Saskatoon, and his former team the Kamloops Blazers with a complete 200-foot player with dynamic offensive potential.

If Toronto needs to find themselves a third-line center with energy, defense, and the potential to add some massive scoring potential to the bottom half of the lineup, they don't need to look far. Just a peek down the roster sheet in between David Kampf and Jake McCabe sits Fraser Minten: Toronto's answer to their center problems.