The Toronto Maple Leafs have sent down one of their top prospects.
Fraser Minten has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, the team announced.
The forward appeared in 11 games for the Leafs this season, scoring two goals and two assists while primarily centring the third line. Minten was called up on Nov. 20 and scored his first career goal in his first game with the big club this season.
The 20-year-old recorded four points in five games, but has gone pointless in his last six.
Since he played in more than 10 games, the first year of his entry-level contract has been burned. Minten made the Leafs roster out of training camp last season, but only got into four games.
If general manager Brad Treliving could, Minten would've stayed up with the big club but roster decisions forced his hand.
"You gotta be careful, especially with young guys, bumping them up and down," Treliving said "But he's had a great start. He's a smart player."
Many fans expected the young forward to make the team out of camp yet again, but he suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Propect's Showdown game against Montreal prior to camp, delaying his game-action until Nov. 10.
Once healthy, he was assigned to the AHL where he played in five games for the Marlies, recording two goals and assists.
Although he has provided some offence to the Leafs' bottom-six forward group, centre David Kämpf is soon to return off of long-term injured reserve, making playing time harder to come by. With the NHL roster freeze set to begin on Dec. 20, the move needed to be made sooner rather than later.
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