The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that defenseman William Lagesson has been recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. In a corresponding move, center Fraser Minten has been returned to the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.
The move regarding Minten, 19, is an expected one. The 2022 38th overall pick had an impressive training camp and preseason, earning Toronto’s third-line center role to start the season.
While he showed some flashes in four regular-season games for the Maple Leafs, it became clear that expecting him to hold down such an important role on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations would not only be a mistake, but also potentially be a detriment to his development.
So Minten will return to the Blazers, who are currently sorely in need of some offensive reinforcements. They’ve scored just 27 goals through 12 games this season, the fewest in the WHL, so adding a former 67-point scorer such as Minten will be a major boon to their nightly competitive chances.
As for Lagesson, the 27-year-old veteran defenseman’s recall was necessitated by the fact that Jake McCabe exited last night’s game with an injury.
The six-foot-two left-shot blueliner has so far played this season entirely at the AHL level but has 60 games of NHL experience.
Lagesson could join fellow Swede Timothy Liljegren on Toronto’s second pairing, or he could even be paired with another Swede, John Klingberg, on the team’s bottom-pairing with Mark Giordano elevated to Liljegren’s pairing.
I thought Minten was the next God on ice for the leafs. That’s all you fans talked about…
Go back to bed. No one said that. He had a good camp and deserved some NHL time. That’s all. Move along…..
Your all the same leaf fans can’t take alittle truth… I am awake now..
Yawn. Whatever. Keep making things up then. Yea a good player. Hopefully a 2L player. No one said he was Crosby
He’s eating his Kraft dinner with wieners his mom made for him and delivered to the basement
Wish I could have my Mom make me lunch but unfortunately I was 1 year and 8 months old when she died from a brain aneurysm so I guess I make my own…but it’s leaf fans way or the cruel way..but thx again for the reminder…