'Like a vet on the bench': How Fraser Minten is impressing Maple Leafs

TORONTO — If there was any threat of the Toronto Maple Leafs blowing a lead to the tired and rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks, Fraser Minten snuffed it out Monday night.

Despite arriving in Toronto sluggish off a Sunday’s loss at home and trailing 2-0 after two periods, the Blackhawks battled for plenty of zone time and had finally solved a zoned-in Anthony Stolarz with a Lukas Reichel strike early in the third.

The visitors had life on a night the Maple Leafs, admittedly, brought their B-game. 

Well, cue Toronto’s A-list prospect and wait 21 seconds.

Minten struck right back on the next shift, restoring a comfortable edge, and the Maple Leafs cruised to a 4-1 victory, their ninth over the past 11 games.

And while the rookie callup’s second career goal may have appeared to be touched by luck — whacking in a puck that pinged off the end-boards and the side of Chicago’s net after a Conor Timmins point shot went wide — Minten saw it as the execution of a plan.

“We were just talking a bit in the intermission that they are pretty collapsed and tight (to their net), so get pucks up to the point,” Minten explained, matter of fact. “Timmer made a smart play bankin’ it there, and it bounced right to me.”

The 20-year-old may have only been there, in the goal column, twice now. But he’s acting like he’s been there his whole life.

To think, the emergency third-line centre already has more goals than both the veteran bottom-six centres (David Kämpf and Max Domi) whose injuries prompted Minten’s promotion from the minors.

Four points in five games. Not too shabby for a talent who is best known for his defensive diligence and who was meant to spend his first full pro season developing on the farm.

“It’s nice to have some go in and contribute to some goals,” Minten said. “But just stick with the same process, whether they’re going in, whether they’re not.”

Minten has now exceeded the duration his 2023-24 NHL stint and, as a pure centre, should remain the 3C at least until Kämpf recovers from the undisclosed lower-body injury that has sidelined him for weeks.

The kid is bigger (six-foot-two, 195 pounds) and stronger and older. 

Less “just happy to be here”; more “show why I can hang here.”

While his group had a rough go last facing a burly, deep opponent like the Florida Panthers, against a thin opponent like Chicago, a Minten-driven line can be an advantage, not simply a saw-off.

“For sure, he’s getting more comfortable up here in the NHL,” coach Craig Berube said.

“He’s excellent. He talks, really, like a vet on the bench. He’s already got that mindset and knows the game extremely well. He’s not a guy you gotta really teach a whole lot to. It’s just, he needs reps. Because he understands the game. He understands the systems very well.”

While a high-ankle sprain delayed Minten’s start this season, his instant impact on the Marlies — four points in five games, natch — made for a no-brainer recall when the big team needed bodies.

“Injuries happen, opportunities happen,” captain Auston Matthews said. A tale as old as time off.

“His hockey IQ definitely jumps out when you watch him play. You know, maybe not the fastest guy, not the biggest and strongest guy. But the way he's able to adapt his game for what the situation presents just really stands out to me. He’s been playing great.”

Minten sees his own progress in an almost logical way. If he’s giddy inside, he’s doing a good job containing his awe in front of the cameras and remaining laser-focused on his next shift, next assignment.

“I think I'm like the same kind of player. Just older, stronger, a little bit better at everything, I guess,” the humble kid said.

Minten will likely return for more AHL seasoning when Toronto returns to full health. But eventually he should get used to life in the show as an everyday NHLer.

“I hope I never get used to it,” Minten said, “because it’s definitely nothing that’s normal. It’s pretty special. It’s cool. It’s something that I’ll try not to take for granted, ever.”

Fox’s Fast Five

• An invasion of fans in "BEDARD" replica sweaters descended upon Scotiabank Arena to catch a breeze from the 19-year-old hype train.

The young face of the Blackhawks didn’t register a shot and was a dash-1. He has expressed frustration with the club’s losing record and his own stat line: five goals and 14 assists through 25 games.

Maple Leafs centre John Tavares was an exceptional-status, first-overall pick who didn’t make the playoffs until his fourth season and didn’t win a round until his seventh. He gets it.

“Everyone goes through it,” Tavares said. “It’s a very difficult league. That’s why it’s the best in the world. It’s hard to produce. It's hard to score.

“Maybe he hasn’t been happy with his production or whether the puck’s going in the net or not, but certainly we know how highly talented, how highly skilled he is.”

Despite a request, the Blackhawks did not make Bedard available to reporters post-game.

• Chicago comes to town once a season, all decked out in those splendid road whites. 

The Maple Leafs chose their black Bieber alternates Monday, denying us one of the most beautiful Original Six sweater matchups. Save the Drew drip for another night.

• Matthews converted the night’s beautiful opening goal on a nifty rush pass from William Nylander. He won 77.8 per cent of his faceoffs and finished a plus-2. But he’s not quite revved up yet, admitting that his legs and lungs have been affected by the layoff.

“He’s not up to speed yet, for sure. We all know that,” Berube said, unbothered. 

“It’s going to take a little time, practice time. And getting some practice… is going to be difficult with the schedule. But he’s working at it, so he’ll get there.”

• The Leafs smartly dodged a delay-of-game penalty at puck drop.

Minten was ready to take the opening draw with his third-line wingers. But when Matthews was announced as a starter, a bewildered Berube checked with Steve Kozari and, upon the ref’s advisement, sent his captain over the boards instead.

Matthews made an immediate change, and Minten hopped back on.

We must imagine this was a lineup card mix-up: A “39” might pass for a “34.”

“It’s on the computer. These computers screw everything up,” Berube said. “That’s why we used to write ’em out, you know? On paper.”

• With every day that passes, the Jani Hakanpää signing feels like more of a mistake.

Great for the player, who is getting paid $1.47 million to practise and rehabilitate his knee with a top-notch medical and training staff.

But even with an injury to defenceman Jake McCabe, Hakanpää — now back on IR — is too hurt to pinch hit.

The man has only played two games of sheltered minutes, on Nov. 13 and 16. 

At this stage, who believes that Hakanpää’s bad knee will hold up? Or that his game will be up to speed, making him effective come crunch time?

GM Brad Treliving looked past the red flags and appears to have made a poor gamble here.