The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to welcome back two prospects to the city when they host the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
Fraser Minten was a second round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2022 while Steeves was signed as an undrafted free agent out of college the year prior. The former was shipped to the Bruins at last season’s trade deadline in a package for defenceman Brandon Carlo, while latter left on his own terms and signed with the Bruins as a free agent in the offseason.
Minten is set to centre the third line against the Maple Leafs and says that he’s still in regular contact with some of his old teammates, specifically his old roommate in Easton Cowan.
“We talk almost every day about how it’s going and you’re kind of in the same sort of spot, you know, that I was last year for him,” Minten said of Cowan. “So, easy to relate to each other. There’s not a lot of people that understand what that’s like, when you’re a young guy coming from junior, especially a star, you know, for years now, and it’s a huge transition into a different role, different league, everything like that.”
Minten and Cowan spent lots of time together early in their Maple Leafs’ tenures despite never actually suiting up for the Maple Leafs or Marlies together. The two played together at the World Juniors for Team Canada in 2024 and shared many development camps and rookie tournaments. There won’t be a reunion tonight, as Cowan was sent to the Toronto Marlies earlier in the week, but Minten is excited to face the rest of the team just the same.
“Everybody. It’ll be good to see all those guys on the ice.”
Steeves, who skated on the Bruins’ second line at morning skate, was just recalled by the Bruins and will make his debut with the team today. In his four seasons as a Leaf, he did everything he could to crack a regular spot on the roster, but he routinely fell victim to the numbers game. The most games he played in a season for the Maple Leafs was seven last year, and while those seven games featured his first NHL goal, the Maple Leafs ultimately never had any space for him despite his repeated success in the AHL. He told reporters that despite his lack of opportunity, he looks back on his time as a Leaf fondly.
“I absolutely wouldn’t trade my four years here for anything,” Steeves said of his time in the Maple Leafs’ organzation. “I grew so much as a person, as a player, I played for two great regimes, ultimately I just decided I wanted to see what kind of other opportunities were out there because, you know, I wasn’t able to break in here, and you know, there’s no bad blood or anything. I only have good things to say about Toronto.”
Steeves said that he signed with the Bruins because they presented him an opportunity, but he still regularly keeps in touch with teammates turned friends.
“It was some of the best years of my life. I still text with some of my buddies, mainly from the Marlies, every day. I never expected to get so close with guys like I did in college, but, you know, four years on one team is a really long time at this level, and I loved it. Really just made unbelievable friends and teammates, staff members.”
Assuming the Bruins run with the lineup they practiced with at morning skate, the Maple Leafs will have to prepare a little extra for a couple of players who will no doubt have a chip on their shoulder.
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