“We’ve been hesitant in the past to move first round picks for one year players but we feel our team, our fans, and the city deserve the best opportunity possible to win our very first WHL Championship,” said Priestner, “Adding an extremely high character 6-foot-2 center with top-end skill and NHL experience was something we needed to give us the best chance at achieving that dream.”

The 2004-born center was drafted in the second round, 38th overall by the Leafs in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. In October 2022, Minten officially became Toronto property when he signed a three-year entry-level deal. Prior to returning to Kamloops to begin the 2023-24 season, Minten suited up in four regular season games with the Leafs.

“Fraser brings all the elements we’ve been looking for; passion, compete, high skill level, size, Memorial Cup experience, not to mention four games of NHL regular season action with Toronto,” said Priestner, “Everyone we spoke to over the last month has raved about his character, his desire to win, and the leadership he brought as captain of the Blazers. We targeted him as our number one priority to acquire this year.”

“We feel with Fraser and captain Trevor Wong down the middle we have one of the most formidable one-two punches in the league at center ice.”

The Vancouver, BC product has been one of the WHL’s premier scorers throughout his 151-game career. Minten’s produced 150 points (58G, 92A) during that stretch, and is a +49. The left-handed shot’s best season came last year in 57 games with the Blazers, scoring 31 goals and 67 points alongside 55 penalty minutes.

The 19-year-old appeared in 17 playoff games last year and was a main contributor offensively potting 16 points (6G, 10A). In four games at the Memorial Cup in Kamloops, Minten produced one goal.

“We’ve been one of the top teams in the league over the last seven years in terms of winning-percentage but we’ve always held on to our first round picks as a fundamental principle of how we’ve built our team,” said Priestner, “We feel the opportunity at hand this year and the window we have to seriously compete for a league title, coupled with the depth we’ve accumulated in our system allowed us to move the two firsts and still be a very competitive team well beyond this year. Also knowing this year’s first pick will be nearer to the end of the round because of our place in the standings made it easier to part with.”

Keller, who is a native to Kamloops and was drafted by the Blades in the third round, 48th overall during the 2020 WHL Prospect Draft, is headed the other way in the deal.

“Jordan will get a great chance to reset his season in his hometown where his dad is a big part of the staff, and we hope he has a phenomenal career with Kamloops,” said Priestner, “He did everything we ever asked of him and he has all the potential to be a great top-six center for Kamloops over the next few years. You never want to trade a player like him, but realistically, that’s the cost of adding a World Junior calibre player like Fraser.”

The Blades would like to extend a huge welcome the Minten and his family to the organization, and look forward to chasing a championship with him on the roster. The Blades also want to thank Jordan for all his dedication to the organization on and off the ice throughout his time in Saskatoon, and wish him nothing but the best in Kamloops.