Fraser Minten Gets the Call + 4 Trade Targets at Centre For Maple Leafs

Yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been winning since captain Auston Matthews has been out of the lineup with a mystery injury for the past couple of weeks (5-1-0 record). But if one thing has been made abundantly clear (as if it wasn't already), it's that the team desperately needs a third-line centre.

To that end, the Leafs have recalled one of their top prospects, Fraser Minten, from the Marlies of the AHL.

🚨🎙️ Marlies HC John Gruden on Fraser Minten:

“His intelligence, his ability to play in all zones, his knowledge of the game [stand out]. He’s played in the World Championships, World Juniors, and he just knows how to play the game the right way.

“He’s a captain from the team… pic.twitter.com/xFhiieV85u
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) November 19, 2024

Marlies head coach John Gruden says Minten, just 20 years old, has shown "intelligence", an "ability to play in all zones", and "knowledge of the game."

Minten, the Leafs' No. 2 prospect, has four points in five games this season in the AHL, after recording 38 points in 36 games and a plus/minus rating of +20 with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League in his final junior season last year. He's got a golden opportunity in front of him, with the Leafs down two centres now, with David Kampf heading to the IR, joining Matthews on the shelf.

Meanwhile, Luke Fox of Sportsnet has proposed four other centres that the Leafs could target through trades, if Minten isn't quite ready for The Show.

Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
Mikael Granlund, San Jose Sharks
Frank Vatrano, Anaheim Ducks
Nick Bjugstad, Utah HC

Nelson would be the most proven addition of this group, coming off three straight 30+ goal seasons, and with seven markers thus far in 18 games. He's an impending UFA, coming off a $6M cap hit this season.

Granlund, however, is having a tremendous season in his walk year, with eight goals and 20 points in 20 games, as his $5M cap hit expires after the season. However, he hasn't scored more than 13 goals in a full season in five years.

Vatrano, 30, had a career year last year with the Ducks, recording 37 goals and making the All-Star game. He has just two goals in 16 games this season however.

Bjugstad had a 22-goal season last year with the Arizona Coyotes.

All four are impending UFAs.