Blades acquire Maple Leafs prospect Minten from Blazers in blockbuster deal
The Saskatoon Blades made a big splash Friday afternoon, acquiring Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten from the Kamloops Blazers in a blockbuster trade.
In exchange for Minten, the Blazers acquired 2005-born forward Jordan Keller, two first-round picks (2024, 2025) and a fourth-round pick (2024).
“We’ve been hesitant in the past to move first round picks for one year players but we feel our team, our fans, and the city deserve the best opportunity possible to win our very first WHL Championship,” said Colin Priestner, General Manager of the Blades. “Adding an extremely high character 6-foot-2 centre with top-end skill and NHL experience was something we needed to give us the best chance at achieving that dream.
“Fraser brings all the elements we’ve been looking for; passion, compete, high skill level, size, Memorial Cup experience, not to mention four games of NHL regular season action with Toronto. Everyone we spoke to over the last month has raved about his character, his desire to win, and the leadership he brought as captain of the Blazers. We targeted him as our number one priority to acquire this year.
“We feel with Fraser and captain Trevor Wong down the middle we have one of the most formidable one-two punches in the league at center ice.”
Minten, 19, has registered 10 points (3G-7A) in seven games since returning to the Blazers from the Maple Leafs. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound product of Vancouver began the 2023-24 campaign in the NHL, skating in four games with the Leafs where he made an immediate impact with brass, media, and fans alike.
“Fraser’s character, work ethic and leadership qualities have made a lasting impact throughout the organization in his four seasons with the Kamloops Blazers,” said Shaun Clouston, General Manager / Head Coach the Blazers. “We have been fortunate to watch Fraser embrace opportunity, challenge himself every day and go after his dream of becoming a professional hockey player. He has been an excellent example to the players and staff with his level of commitment to improvement. He has been a pleasure to coach and we wish him all the best in his hockey career.”
Selected by the Maple Leafs in the second round (38th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, Minten was named captain of the Blazers on November 2, shortly after being returned to Kamloops. Across 151 career WHL Regular Season contests with the Blazers, the two-way centre has recorded 150 points (58G-92A).
Minten was integral in the Blazers push to the 2022 WHL Western Conference Championship Series, appearing in 17 WHL Playoff games and contributing 16 points (6G-10A) along the way. In 27 career WHL post-season outings, he has collected 20 points (8G-12A).
The veteran forward was also a member of the Blazers squad that hosted the 2023 Memorial Cup. In four tournament games, Minten scored once.
With that lengthy resume of experience, the Blades hope Minten will enhance their championship aspirations in 2023-24.
Heading into Friday action, the Blades are 15-8-0-0 (30 points) and rank first in the WHL’s East Division, second in the WHL’s Eastern Conference, and fourth in the WHL’s overall standings. Only two points separate Saskatoon from the Prince George Cougars, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Wenatchee Wild in the WHL’s overall standings.
“We’ve been one of the top teams in the league over the last seven years in terms of winning-percentage but we’ve always held on to our first round picks as a fundamental principle of how we’ve built our team,” Priestner said. “We feel the opportunity at hand this year and the window we have to seriously compete for a league title, coupled with the depth we’ve accumulated in our system allowed us to move the two firsts and still be a very competitive team well beyond this year. Also knowing this year’s first pick will be nearer to the end of the round because of our place in the standings made it easier to part with.”
For the Blazers, they receive Keller – a hometown product of Kamloops – as part of the return for Minten. The 18-year-old left winger enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2022-23, posting 30 points (13G-17A) in 66 regular season games.
“We are very excited to add Jordan to our team,” Clouston said. “Jordan is a smart, skilled hockey player that has passion and commitment to the game. With only one 2005-born forward on our roster, the addition of Jordan gives us a quality player for the next three seasons.”
Keller’s father, Aaron, spent four seasons with the Blazers from 1992 through 1996. He won two Memorial Cups as a member of the Blazers (1994, 1995) and led all WHL defencemen in scoring during the 1995-96 season when he recorded 87 points (21G-66A). Aaron is currently the Director of Player Development with the Blazers.
“Jordan will get a great chance to reset his season in his hometown where his dad is a big part of the staff, and we hope he has a phenomenal career with Kamloops,” Priestner said. “He did everything we ever asked of him and he has all the potential to be a great top-six center for Kamloops over the next few years. You never want to trade a player like him, but realistically, that’s the cost of adding a World Junior calibre player like Fraser.”
Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing in at 161 pounds, Jordan was originally selected by the Blades in the third round (48th overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. In 97 career WHL Regular Season games, he has recorded 39 points (19G-20A), including eight points (5G-3A) in 23 games this season.
Minten was originally selected by the Blazers in the fourth round (72nd overall) of the 2019 WHL Draft.
Minten is not expected to be in the lineup today when the Blades continue their U.S. Division swing with an afternoon matinee (2:05 p.m. PT) against the Seattle Thunderbirds at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash.
The Blazers return to action tonight at 7 p.m. PT when they host the Vancouver Giants at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops.