The Toronto Maple Leafs will have an interesting training camp, as there is an excess of forwards competing for just 13 spots.
Toronto will likely carry at least one extra forward, while multiple players could be sent down to the AHL or even traded. One player who is trying to make the team is Easton Cowan, who is the Maple Leafs’ top prospect.
Although Cowan has the upside of being a top-six forward, Maple Leafs insider Joshua Kloke of The Athletic believes he has an uphill battle to make the roster.
“The Leafs have 14 bona fide NHL forwards on their roster right now,” Kloke wrote. “Whether the likes of David Kampf, Nick Robertson and Calle Jarnkrok are on the opening-night roster is up for debate. Even if Treliving moves on from one or two players before camp, though, every other player has far more pro hockey experience than Cowan.
“To a Leafs coaching staff and management group that favour veterans, the stacked depth chart matters,” Kloke added. “That leaves Cowan with an uphill battle. Toronto has a roster constructed for the present, not the future. The Leafs are undoubtedly intrigued by what Cowan could bring to the NHL — creative playmaking, relentless energy, some nastiness here and there — but they’ll need him to look the part of a pro quickly. In a difficult division and with the pressure to win now continuous, Cowan might not get the runway to develop slowly.”
If Cowan doesn’t make the Maple Leafs roster, he will be sent down to the AHL for his first pro season. Cowan could benefit from playing in the AHL and learning to be a pro before reaching the NHL.
Cowan Hopeful to Make Maple Leafs
Although Kloke doubts Cowan will make Toronto’s roster, the prospect says that is his goal.
Cowan is entering his first pro season after helping the London Knights win the Memorial Cup. The prospect says he does have some comfort now knowing he will either be in the NHL or AHL, as he can’t play in junior anymore.
“My mind’s pretty free right now. I’ve got no worries. I know I’ll be playing somewhere in Toronto this year. And obviously I want to play in the NHL, but I’ve just got to have a good mindset and keep it free,” Cowan said.
Cowan was selected 28th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft by Toronto. Entering camp, the forward knows he needs to work on his defense as he’s confident the offense will come.
“I’ve got to be a worker, I’ve got to be a hound, get pucks in, get pucks out, play simple,” Cowan said. “Because me and the Leafs organization know that if I do that, my offense will take over. So I just (have to) focus on defense first, and the offense will come.”
Cowan has the upside of being a top-six forward for the Maple Leafs.
Toronto Coach Says Cowan has to Change
Cowan nearly made the Maple Leafs as an 18-year-old and struggled in camp last season.
Entering his third NHL training camp, coach Craig Berube says Cowan needs to make some minor changes to his game.
“We need him to get the trust of the coach by playing a simple, north game, and being that hounder and that forechecker and being a difficult guy to play against, being defensively responsible, managing the puck, things like that,” Berube said to The Athletic. “He’s gotta change a little bit, because junior is different than pro. We all know that. Cowboy’s had a real good summer. He’s stronger, he’s bigger. He’s prepared. And he understands what he needs to do to try to make the team.”
Cowan could help replace the void of Mitch Marner if he does make the Maple Leafs.
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