Sennecke would do well to recover after losing this puck, and this is where Pavel Mintyukov is at his best: operating in the offensive zone with the puck on his stick. He shows some patience and great vision to find Gauthier on the other side
At first glance, the idea that the Ducks would be open to moving Mintyukov less than four years after selecting him 10th overall in 2022 seems like a stretch. After all, they are a team on the rise and the Russian blueliner fits right into their contention window as he is only 22 years old at the time of filing. His offensive production this season hasn’t been overwhelming, but he has collected 15 points (six goals and nine assists) in 51 games. Mintyukov is capable of producing at least 20 points or more, as evidenced by his rookie season when he scored 28 points in 2023-2024.
Mintyukov’s potential certainly hasn’t diminished, but this does have the hallmarks of a buy-low candidate who could benefit from being in a different environment. This is an offensive defenseman who is a strong puck mover, has high mobility and good reach to fend off defenders and break up play. The Ducks may not need him since they already have LaCombe and Zellweger, but a team like the Leafs could benefit greatly from adding Mintyukov to the mix.
Targeting Mintyukov would help address this issue while fitting into the competitive window the Leafs want to keep open with Auston Matthews and William Nylander still under contract. There could be an opportunity for Mintyukov to get regular minutes and possibly power play time, especially if players like Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Morgan Rielly are moved in the coming months. If he finds himself in a better situation that allows him to regain some of the confidence he lost due to being left behind by the Ducks, it could help unlock his potential as an offensive defenseman.
However this is accomplished, it would be in the Leafs’ best interest to target Mintyukov as part of their retooling efforts.
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