The Kamloops Blazers will be without one of their veteran players for a prolonged amount of time as Fraser Minten is set to make his NHL debut this week with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Minten has been away from the Blazers attending the Leafs’ training camp and playing in pre-season games, eventually earning a spot in the team’s opening night roster. 

Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

It's a rare feat for a teenager who isn't a high first-round draft pick to make an NHL roster, especially one of a contender like Toronto's, but Minten's impressive camp left the Leafs' brass with no other choice.

The 19-year-old received a phone call from Leafs’ GM Brad Treliving on the weekend to break the good news that he will be playing Wednesday against the Montreal Canadians. 

“It’s been a dream of mine for as long as I've been alive and playing hockey to be in a position like this, so it means a lot,” Minten told reporters. 
 

Minten was drafted 38th overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2022 NHL draft and has been with the Blazers for three seasons, appearing in 57 games last year and tallying 67 points. 

In 10 playoff games, he managed two goals and two assists, adding a lone goal in four Memorial Cup games played. 

The Leafs can use Minten in as many as nine NHL regular season games without using a year of his entry-level contract and still return him to the Blazers, so he may still come back to Kamloops yet. 
 

Photo Credit: Kamloops Blazers

In other Blazers’ news, Jakub Demek has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Demek played in 15 games last season in Kamloops, accumulating four goals and seven assists before adding 11 points in 14 playoff games.  

The native of Slovakia is currently at camp with Vegas' AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.