The Toronto Maple Leafs are preparing to open training camp for the 2024-25 season, but they will be without a couple of key prospects and depth forwards.
According to general manager Brad Treliving, Fraser Minten, Ben Danford, and Conor Dewar will all miss the start of camp due to injury. Minten suffered a high-ankle injury in his debut game with the Maple Leafs, and there is no timetable for his comeback. He is anticipated to miss at least a few weeks while recovering.
Minten was the Maple Leafs’ second-round pick (38th overall) in 2022, and he soon established himself as one of their best prospects.
He made the NHL roster out of camp for the 2023-24 season, but only played four games before being assigned to his junior team, the Kamloops Blazers. Minten, who had some NHL experience, was excited about the prospect of making the Maple Leafs’ squad.
Danford, the Maple Leafs’ most recent first-round pick, has already been gone from the organization for roughly a week. During rookie camp, Danford departed the ice early due to an apparent head injury.
Danford suffered a concussion, which will now limit his time at Maple Leafs NHL camp. Treliving says Danford is making improvement.
The Maple Leafs selected Danford with the 31st overall choice in the 2024 NHL Draft. When he recovers to full health, he will most likely rejoin his junior team, the Oshawa Generals.
Dewar is still healing from offseason shoulder surgery, which will keep him off the ice to begin camp.
During the 2023-24 season, the Maple Leafs acquired Dewar from the Minnesota Wild in a trade. Following the trade, Dewar played 17 games for the Maple Leafs, recording one goal and four assists for a total of five points.
