Easton Cowan is ready to do whatever it takes to make the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.
Cowan nearly made Toronto as an 18-year-old, but he was one of the last cuts, and then last training camp, he struggled and was an early cut. Now, with Cowan not eligible to be sent back to the OHL, his two options are the NHL or the AHL.
Yet, ahead of training camp, Cowan says he wants to prove he can be a top-line player in the NHL and help the Maple Leafs win games.
“My mindset right now is to make the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Cowan said to the Toronto Sun. “That’s my goal. We’re at an NHL camp and that’s where I’m at until further notice. This is definitely the most confident I’ve ever felt — faster, stronger, bigger. So that’s going to help me out a lot. I’ve put in the work this summer. Now, it’s just go out there and prove I can play.”
Cowan is very confident in his game that he will be able to be an impact NHL player this season as a 20-year-old. With the Maple Leafs needing to replace Mitch Marner on the top line, perhaps he fits that role.
But, for now, Cowan is just focused on making the Maple Leafs roster out of training camp. After that, he wants to remain with the team and prove he can be a first-line forward and make an impact as a rookie.
Cowan Credits Maple Leafs Management for Development
Toronto selected Cowan with the 28th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Since being picked, Cowan has taken massive strides in his game and projects to be a top-six forward in the NHL. Although Cowan has taken strides himself, he does credit the Maple Leafs management for their development and for instilling confidence in him.
“Management does a great job staying in touch with me throughout the year,” Cowan said. “I’ve heard from everyone. They’re all being positive, so I’m being positive. The coach (Craig Berube) is like the other management, staying in touch about little stuff to help a prospect make that jump easier.”
Cowan says he’s put on weight to help him make the transition to the NHL easier.
“I’m feeling good out there, excited for camp,” Cowan added.
Maple Leafs GM Believes Cowan Could Help Replace Marner
After Marner left this offseason, the Maple Leafs haven’t added an impact player to replace the void.
Instead, Toronto added more depth players to replace him by committee. But, Maple Leafs general manager, Brad Treliving, says Cowan could be someone to take Marner’s spot in the lineup.
“We’re going to miss him, but everyone moves on, right?” Treliving said to The Athletic. “We’ve got some guys that are looking for a bit of a bigger bite of the apple. We’ve got some new players that will be interesting to see where they fit. But you’re not just going to go out and replace him. You’ve got to do it by the aggregate — and then keep phoning around.
“We’ve got a couple of young guys that will be interesting to see where they’re at, especially with (Easton) Cowan, and you’ve got (Matias) Maccelli coming in, and Nick Roy, and (Dakota) Joshua,” Treliving added.
Cowan helped the London Knights win the Memorial Cup last season. He recorded 29 goals and 40 assists for 69 points in 46 games last season with London.
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