Darcy Tucker Shares Valuable Advice With Maple Leafs Rookie Easton Cowan
Photo credit: Toronto Maple Leafs
Former beloved forward Darcy Tucker had a message for Easton Cowan ahead of his second game of the year, encouraging him to follow in his footsteps to find success.
Easton Cowan made his NHL debut on Monday afternoon and while he didn't find the scoresheet, he did make a solid effort at both ends of the ice, playing with relentless energy and giving the top line a spark.
Heading into his second game it looks like more and more like Cowan is going to become a mainstay for the lineup, and while there are questions about his fit when others return from injury; for now he's here to stay.
Although he's a bit smaller than your average Maple Leaf, he does offer a bulldog mentality and can get dirty and nasty when the time calls for it.
Former Leaf Icon Darcy Tucker Offers Advice To Easton Cowan
Someone who is no stranger to that, as well as being an offensive dynamo was former Maple Leaf winger Darcy Tucker.
Tucker was part of the pre-game panel with Ryan Leslie and Joe Bowen and discussed Cowan and how he can adapt his game to not only have a long NHL career, but a successful one.
His words of wisdom came from a very close place; his own experiences and how when he changed his game, so too did his career:
Yeah tha's an element, you know when you talk about guys coming out of junior to add that [physical] element to their game; I wasn't physical when I left junior I was supposed to be a small skilled forward who played center.
I had to adapt and learn to play that style. I learned quick from Pat Quinn that I needed to get in the tough spots, throw hits, get in on the forecheck, do what it takes to win.
The game is harder and quicker now but he will adapt and 'Chief' will help him get there for sure.
I had to adapt and learn to play that style. I learned quick from Pat Quinn that I needed to get in the tough spots, throw hits, get in on the forecheck, do what it takes to win.
The game is harder and quicker now but he will adapt and 'Chief' will help him get there for sure.
So far he's doing his best, with two hits so far against Nashville but fans would love him to get on the scoresheet.
There's a lot of parallels to draw between Tucker and Cowan. Both are a bit smaller in stature (Tucker is 5'10, Cowan is 6'0) and both are/were under 200 pounds for their playing weight.
How Easton Cowan Can Emulate Darcy Tucker
But they certainly play heavier than their size would indicate, and if Cowan can bring in that dimension Tucker had with Mats Sundin; it would be massively beneficial.
Tucker had 319 points in his time with the Maple Leafs (148 goals, 171 assists) but also averaged over 100 hits and 100 PIM over his career. We aren't asking Cowan to visit the sin bin as often as Tucker, but that added edge would be great.
Few remember that much like Cowan, the former Maple Leafs forward had an outstanding junior career, with an absurd 379 points in 223 games including back to back seasons with over 135 points.
But since it didn't immediately translate to success, he listened to Pat Quinn who acknowledged that his scrappiness and energy could be utilized as a weapon to fight for pucks and feed Sundin.
Much like the Toronto Maple Leafs want Easton Cowan to do with Auston Matthews, and the more they continue to play together and find chemistry, the more goals and points are going to come.
Let's just hope Cowan has his ears open to listen to Tucker's advice.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 15 | 1155 ANSWERS Darcy Tucker Shares Valuable Advice With Maple Leafs Rookie Easton Cowan Can Easton Cowan turn into this generation's version of Darcy Tucker for the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 809 | 70 % |
| No | 346 | 30 % |
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