In the world of hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie camp has been buzzing this week with the dynamic duo of top prospects Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan sharing a room. The excitement surrounding these two young talents is palpable as they strive to make their mark on the ice.
Cowan, a first-round pick in 2023 who captained the London Knights to an Ontario Hockey League title last season, couldn’t help but praise Minten’s professionalism. “He’s definitely a pro,” Cowan exclaimed. “He reads. He watches highlights. He stretches. I’ll get out of the shower and, all of a sudden, he’s on the foam roller that’s vibrating the whole time. I’m like, ‘What’s that noise?’ Yeah, like I said, just a pro.”
Minten, on the other hand, stands out at Leafs rookie camp as the only player who has already played in the National Hockey League. The cerebral center surprised everyone by making Toronto’s lineup out of training camp last year and appearing in four games before being sent back to the Western Hockey League.
Drawing from his experience, Minten expressed his sense of comfort as he aims to repeat his accomplishment this year. “Just maybe a little bit more confidence, belief that you can get to that level,” Minten reflected.
Despite his achievements, the 20-year-old from Vancouver remains grounded and is constantly seeking ways to improve. He’s been revisiting the book ‘Ego is the Enemy’ by Ryan Holiday to stay humble. “It’s just a couple tips on humility,” Minten shared. “The ability to consistently be humble enough to put in effort and not think you’ve arrived. There’s always more to give and just kind of getting into the process rather than results.”
Toronto Marlies coach John Gruden, who is overseeing rookie camp, commended Minten’s approach. “What he said is exactly what I see from a distance,” Gruden observed. “And I don’t think you can fake that. So it’s good for him to understand that.”
Minten, however, remains focused on the task at hand, approaching this year’s camp with the same intensity as he did a year ago. The journey towards becoming a professional hockey player is long and challenging, but with players like Minten and Cowan leading the charge, the future for the Toronto Maple Leafs is looking brighter than ever.
