In a rare Atlantic Division trade, the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs made a big deal on March 7, 2025. The Bruins sent defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Maple Leafs in exchange for prospect Fraser Minten, a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 Draft. While the draft picks are nice, Minten is already making noise in the American Hockey League (AHL) and could be a big piece for the Bruins down the line.
Fraser Minten Already Making Waves in the AHL
The Toronto Maple Leafs were high on Fraser Minten before the trade and some Maple Leafs fans were upset to see him go, especially with his potential. But visa issues held up his debut with the Providence Bruins. Once those were resolved, Minten didn’t waste time showing why he’s such a prized prospect.
This weekend, Minten put on a show, scoring a natural hat trick in a 4-1 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds. His quick release and ability to finish in tight were on full display and Boston Bruins fans have a lot to be excited about. A Vancouver native and second-round pick from the 2022 NHL Draft, Minten is a bright spot in the Bruins prospect pool.
Don’t Rush Minten to the NHL
While Minten is playing well in the AHL, it’s not a reason to rush him to the NHL. The Bruins have always taken a patient approach with their prospects and this season is no exception.
Let Him Develop in the AHL
Minten played 15 games with the Maple Leafs earlier this season and had 2 goals and 4 points. Not terrible but it shows the big difference between junior and the NHL. Rather than throwing him into the mess that is the Boston Bruins right now, keeping him in the AHL allows him to hone his skills against professional competition with less pressure.
Players like Cole Koepke, Jakub Lauko, and Marat Kushnutdinov are better suited to fill roles at the NHL level right now. Meanwhile leaving Minten and other top prospects like Fabian Lysell and Matthew Poitras in Providence gives them the chance to grow individually and as a unit during the regular season and playoffs.
If the Bruins need a forward, calling up Oliver Wahlstrom makes more sense than disrupting Minten’s development.
Fraser Minten has his fourth point (!) of the game as he jumps off the bench, controls the puck out high and shoots with purpose through traffic. Riley Duran, No. 11 in white, is there to score the tip-in goal. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/vbihLhG1Q9
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) March 16, 2025
Why the Bruins Should Be Patient with Minten?
While Minten is off to a great start, don’t call him up to the NHL just yet. Here’s why:
- Development is Key: Minten is only 20 and has room to grow in the AHL.
- Don’t Put Pressure On Him: The Bruins are in a rebuild and putting Minten in the NHL too soon could hurt his development.
- AHL Playoff Experience: Keep him in Providence and he’ll get playoff experience and continue to develop.
Instead of calling up Minten, the Bruins can use Cole Koepke, Jakub Lauko, and Marat Khusnutdinov to fill those NHL roles this season.
The Big Picture for the Bruins
The Bruins acquired Minten because they’re building for the future. Along with Fabian Lysell and Matthew Poitras, Minten adds to the growing list of young talent in the organization.
By keeping Minten in the AHL, the Bruins are setting him up for long term success not rushing him into the high pressure NHL.
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