When the Boston Bruins traded defenseman Brandon Carlo, the return had to be well worth it for general manager Don Sweeney to trade a top-four defenseman within the Atlantic Division to a heated rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As it turns out, the return was worth it. Boston received prospect Fraser Minten, a protected first-round pick, and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. As for the first-round pick, it was looking like it was turning into gold before the Maple Leafs ended up pulling off a successful late-season tank job to win the NHL Lottery Draft when the dust settled. The pick was Top 5 protected, and having Toronto win the draft lottery was a low blow.
However, the big part of the return was Minten, and after a very good 2025-26 season, his first full one as a pro, the 22-year-old is looking ahead. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the upcoming season, but he made it clear that he wants to remain in Boston long-term when talking to Jim McBride of the Boston Globe.
Fraser Minten has eyes toward future in Boston
A second-round pick by the Maple Leafs in the 2022 Entry Draft, Minten played in all games last season for the Black and Gold, but what was surprising was his offensive output and his all-around game. Minten had 17 goals and 18 assists with an eye-opening plus/minus of plus-21. He averaged 15:33 a night, and he even found himself on the ice in some key late-game situations by taking some big face-offs for first-year head coach Marco Sturm.
As for his upcoming contract season and where he sees himself after the 2026-27 season, it's in Boston.
“Boston has done nothing but treat me super well and I really enjoy wearing the logo,” Minten said. “So, that would be something that would be super appealing to me for sure.”
Locking him up sooner rather than later would be the move for Sweeney and the front office to make. Some rules will go into effect this month before training camp starts that could impact any potential deal that Minten could sign.
As for the trade in March of 2025, this is one that the Bruins clearly are going to win for a long time. Carlo is no longer with Toronto after he was traded to the St. Louis Blues to reunite with head coach Jim Montgomery. Maple Leafs fans were not only frustrated by the trade, but also by the results with Carlo. If Sweeney had to do it all over again, he would make the same move. Locking him up is the right move going forward in training camp.
Add us as a preferred source on Google