Bruins prospect Fraser Minten looking to carve out role in NHL

Bruins

“They went out and got me because they thought it would translate well.”

By Conor Ryan

April 5, 2025 | 3:44 PM

3 minutes to read

Fraser Minten initially wasn’t all that fond of the Boston Bruins.

After all, the Vancouver native witnessed his hometown Canucks fall to Boston in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. 

“Oh, yeah, that whole series is awesome,” Minten said at TD Garden Saturday morning. “That was kind of what got me into loving hockey when I was a kid. So lots of memories. … I was at home. I might have been out and about in the streets for a bit before it got a little rowdy, but mostly at home.”

Of course, Minten has no qualms about the Spoked-B these days — especially with the 20-year-old forward expected to make his debut with Boston on Saturday night against the Hurricanes.

One of the primary returns in Boston’s trade-deadline fire sale, Minten will center a third line alongside Marat Khusnutdinov and Vinni Lettieri against Carolina. 

“The reports that we got from Providence were that he’s been a very reliable player, smart, heady player, probably in more of a penalty-kill role,” Joe Sacco said of the expectations on Minten. “We’re going to throw him in the penalty kill here tonight, see where that goes. … I think we’re just looking to see him play a game that he’s been playing in Providence. 

“He’s been playing well down there, and it’s an opportunity for the organization to get a look at him.”

Initially one of the Maple Leafs’ top prospects, Minten was acquired by Boston (along with Toronto’s 2026 first-round pick) in exchange for Brandon Carlo just ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. 

Despite his age, Minten has already appeared in 19 career games in the NHL — earning reps with Toronto as a high-motor, two-way player who can offer the promise of being a middle-six stalwart in the coming years. 

“Just play hard, play like I’ve been playing down in Providence,” Minten said. “Be a reliable, hard-working guy. Everyone in here still wants to play to win the game, the coaches want us playing to win the game. That’s what we’re gonna try to do. We’re not too worried about the standings and regardless, gonna go and try to win the game tonight.”

Along with his experience in the NHL ranks with Toronto (two goals, two assists over those 19 games), Minten had settled in well with Providence since last month’s trade — recording seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 games, including a hat trick against Springfield on March 16. 

Saturday won’t stand as Minten’s NHL debut, but his first game with Boston — and at TD Garden, no less — will stand as a new experience for the 2022 second-round pick. 

“Never skated on this rink before, I’ve never been in this city before,” Minten said. “So that is all new stuff. So definitely lots of new things.

While the Bruins’ most pressing need this offseason likely lies in high-end offensive talent, Boston also needs to fill out its lineup moving forward with dependable, NHL-ready talent. 

If Minten can make a good impression with Boston over these final six games and carry that into next season, the Bruins could have their potential 3C of the future already in place. 

“They went out and got me because they thought it would translate well,” Minten said of his two-way skillset. “And I think I’ve been doing that well so far, just being a guy who plays well on both sides of the puck and closes plays and transitions and plays the sort of that reliable, consistent hockey that the Bruins want to play.”

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.