The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2025-26 NHL season is set to begin on Oct. 8, and the roster appears to be set.
Entering camp, Toronto has plenty of roster battles in the forward group. One player who was looking to earn a roster spot was top forward prospect Easton Cowan. Ahead of opening night, Cowan appears to have earned a roster spot, and Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube heaped praise on him.
“Yeah, I think he is,” Berube said on Oct. 5 when asked if Cowan is ready to play in the NHL. “We have decisions to make, but I think he showed us enough (to say) that he is ready. He has a motor on him. He impresses me with his motor. It is constant work, and he has a high IQ. I liked him a lot.”
Cowan has clearly impressed Berube, as he has passed over some veteran players to earn a roster spot. After playing another preseason game, Berube was impressed with Cowan’s game.
“He did a lot of good things,” Berube added. “He maybe tried to do too much at times. But it is not from a lack of effort. He is trying to do things that he is good at. He did a lot of good things. Like everybody on the team, I thought the effort was really good tonight.”
The Maple Leafs selected Cowan 28th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Cowan Opens Up On Potential Making Maple Leafs Roster
Ahead of opening night, Cowan seems like a lock to make Toronto’s roster.
If Cowan does make the Maple Leafs’ opening night roster, he says it would be a dream come true. He also feels like he has played well all camp and is confident he can make an impact at the NHL level.
“It would mean everything,” Cowan said. “That’s what you dream of as a kid. So yeah, we’ll see. I felt like throughout camp I got better and better each and every day. Obviously, the numbers weren’t there, but I felt like I played a good 200-foot game.
“I felt really good with my game and I know if I keep working in practice on my shot, eventually the chances will go in,” Cowan added. “So yeah, I felt like I had a really good preseason.”
Toronto opens its season at home on Oct. 8 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Matthew Knies Praises Cowan
Not only has Berube been impressed with Cowan, but so too have his teammates.
Star Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies says he was impressed with Cowan all camp and what he showed.
“He had a good summer. I could tell he got a lot stronger, a lot faster,” Knies said. “He looks a lot more mature of a player. So, yeah, he’s been having a great camp and I think he deserves the attention he’s getting, and the chance to be in the opening night lineup.”
Cowan is expected to start on the Maple Leafs’ fourth line. But if he continues to play well, he could very well move up the lineup.
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