Fraser Minten adjusting quickly to life with Blades

It has been a whirlwind few days for Fraser Minten.

The 19-year-old forward was traded from the Kamloops Blazers to the Saskatoon Blades on Friday and played in his first WHL game with the team the next day — a 5-4 loss to the host Portland Winterhawks.

Minten scored a goal in his debut just one day after leaving Kamloops.

“It’s difficult leaving,” Minten told The Green Zone on Monday. “That’s the place I called home for the last four years and billet families that have become like mom and dad almost and all of these guys end up being your best friends.

“It’s not easy, especially on short notice like it was for me. I just found out on Friday morning and was gone by 2 o’clock on Friday so I didn’t get to say goodbye to my billets or some of the guys on the team who were at high school so it’s pretty quick with that part of it.”

Quick turnarounds have been the story of the Vancouver product’s season thus far. Minten had a strong training camp and pre-season with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, who took him in the second round (38th overall) of the 2022 entry draft.

Minten played four regular-season games with the Leafs but didn’t record a point.

Then he was sent back to the Blazers on Oct. 27 and was named the team’s captain on Nov. 2.

“(The Leafs) wanted me to mature and grow physically stronger and a little more well-rounded throughout all areas of the game,” Minten said. “This year I get to be a bit more of an offensive guy being a 19-year-old in the league and being one of the bigger and stronger guys and just continue to work on that. Hopefully, (I) just continue to get better at all areas there.”

He played his first NHL regular-season game on Oct. 11 and was able to take the traditional first solo lap on the ice in warmup like all NHL rookies.

“It’s special (to take that lap) but as a player, you’re just trying to not step on a puck or miss the net or fall over,” he said. “That’s kind of your main concern for those first 15 seconds – just try not to do anything that will get you posted on Instagram or Twitter for all the wrong reasons.

“You aren’t really soaking it too much in at that point. You’re just trying to not mess up and obviously it’s pretty hard to contain a smile. It’s an unreal moment to go out there and realize you’re playing in an NHL game.”

Just 22 days after being named the Blazers’ captain, he was traded to the Blades.

“It’s crazy. I should have just kept my bags packed,” Minten said. “It all happened pretty quickly. I think I was only back in Kamloops for three weeks and didn’t expect to be moved so fast.

“I just ended up throwing everything in a couple hockey bags and driving down to Vancouver and flying down to Portland and played the first day I got with the (Blades). It all happened real quick and it’s nice to get into a practice with the guys.

“I’m excited about the team here – it’s a really good squad and I’m excited to see what we can do.”

Minten said the Blazers were open with him about the possibility he would be traded after returning to the WHL.

He was on the Kamloops team last year that hosted the Memorial Cup and made a big trade ahead of it. The Blazers acquired defenceman Olen Zellweger and forward Ryan Hofer from the Everett Silvertips for forwards Drew Englot and Jack Bakker, defencemen Kaden Hammell and Rylan Pearce, and multiple draft picks.

“It made total sense for the organization (to trade me) and no hard feelings or anything there. I’m grateful that they have given me a chance with a great organization here that has a shot to win it once again,” Minten said.

The Blades (16-8-1-0) are currently in second place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. There is a familiar face in the Blades’ lineup for him, with forward Brandon Lisowsky also being a Leafs prospect.

Minten has found it easy to build a bond with his new teammates in a short time, especially with the club being in the middle of a U.S. road trip.

“You realize as soon as you get in the dressing room and have some meals and get on the bus with some guys and get into the game, they are just like the brothers you left behind with your other team,” he said. “They are all just good guys who love the game and we all share a common passion of hockey. It’s pretty easy to gel and get along with guys for the most part.

“If you told me even two years ago that this would be my life and where I am at, I would be very proud of myself. It’s right where I want to be career-wise at this point: I have a good spot with a strong WHL team and a chance to win and compete every night.

“I had a good taste of pro hockey that makes me feel like I can belong there one day and be a player and make a living out of the game I love.”