Matt Frattin: Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Goes from Castaway to Hobey Finalist

Midway through 2009, it appeared as if Matt Frattin had played his last collegiate game for the University of North Dakota. In the summer of 2009, Frattin was arrested twice, including once for driving under the influence and was subsequently released from the team.

Having been drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2007 NHL draft with the 99th overall pick, it seemed like an easy decision to turn pro at that point, right?

Wrong. Frattin had other plans.

Returning to the team in late 2009 with unfinished business, he enjoyed an up and down junior season, one that included 11 goals in his final 13 games. It has been his senior year, however, that has given Maple Leafs fans reason for optimism.

Entering the 2010-11 season back on a scholarship after having it rescinded in 2009, Frattin did not disappoint. He led the nation with 36 goals and finished second in points to Miami senior, Andy Miele. He has parlayed this regular season success into postseason honors, being named the WCHA Player of the Year and was the MVP of the WCHA Final Five tournament. Most importantly, however, is that he was named one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker award, given annually to college hockey’s best player.

While winning the Hobey Baker is no guarantee for success at the NHL level (see 2007 winner Ryan Duncan), it is still a very prestigious award to add to any hockey resumé. Many past winners have turned their Hobey into an NHL career. Last year’s winner, Blake Geoffrion, has burst onto the NHL scene as a rookie with six goals in his first 17 games. And 2001 winner, Ryan Miller, is the NHL’s reigning Vezina Trophy winner.

This weekend, Frattin leads the No. 2 seed Fighting Sioux into the NCAA Frozen Four for a date with Michigan on Thursday night. The following night comes the Hobey Baker announcement, which has Leaf fans eager to see how their prospect will fare. The last time Toronto had a Hobey Baker award winner suit up for them? That would be Tom Kurvers in 1991.

For those of you who need a reminder, he was the player acquired for the 1991 first-round pick that turned out to be Scott Niedermayer.

Listed on North Dakota’s website at 6’0", 210lbs, Frattin possesses the size to succeed at the NHL level. Racking up 42 PIM this season shows he also has that sandpaper side to his game that Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke likes in his players. As with any college prospect, however, it is difficult to gauge how they will fare at the next level. Fellow Leaf prospect Jerry D’Amigo decided to turn pro after just one year at RPI and struggled mightily at the AHL level before being reassigned to the OHL in February.

The 2009 Hobey winner, Matt Gilroy, has bounced between the NHL and AHL this season after coming into the league with much hype prior to last season.

Brian Burke has stocked his cupboard full of players with NCAA experience hoping that they can fill the void left by years of ineptitude at the draft by previous regimes. Players like Tyler Bozak, Brayden Irwin and Christian Hanson have all been brought in via free agency, while Joe Colborne and Jake Gardiner were brought into the fold through trades this season.

Only time will tell whether any of these prospects will pan out for the Blue and White. With their late season surge towards the playoffs giving Leaf fans hope for the future, Friday night’s announcement represents another night on the calendar that will hopefully make that light at the end of the tunnel a little bit closer.