Easton Cowan Eyes Roster Spot, But Maple Leafs Plan to Make It Difficult
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs top prospect Easton Cowan is trying to make the team out of training camp, but a few factors are preventing him from being a sure thing.
With training camp only a couple of months away, there's a lot of anticipation surrounding the roster and how the new additions are going to gel with the old faces and bring about a new era for the team.
Matias Maccelli and Nicolas Roy are both expected to be huge parts of the new-look offense, Michael Pezzetta is expected to be a fan favourite, and there is a chance a Marlies standout or two makes their way onto the team.
Cowan making a push to end up on Maple Leafs on opening night
However one name with a lot of focus is Easton Cowan, and he knows it's not going to be easy to make the roster, especially with the amount of talent already on the roster. He's got the chops, but is he truly NHL-ready?
Ranked #48 out of the Top 100 prospects listed by The Athletic, Cowan is still apparently a ways away from making the team, he feels confident he can, telling NHL.com that he knows there's a job ready for the taking:
I want to make the team. That's always been my goal.
I want to play in the NHL one day and I'm feeling very confident. I just have to come into camp, be a very reliable player, someone the coach can trust. I just have to learn game management a bit better and I think I'll be good.
I just want to show that I've gotten better since last camp. I've learned a lot last year, learned a lot through the year with Leafs camp and in London there.
I want to play in the NHL one day and I'm feeling very confident. I just have to come into camp, be a very reliable player, someone the coach can trust. I just have to learn game management a bit better and I think I'll be good.
I just want to show that I've gotten better since last camp. I've learned a lot last year, learned a lot through the year with Leafs camp and in London there.
Cowan was remarkable in London, with 220 points in 175 games with the Knights (84 goals, 136 assists) and won nearly every individual accolade he could, two OHL Championships, and a Memorial Cup this season to cap it all off.
It's not going to be easy for Easton
If Cowan were to make the team, the Maple Leafs would need to make sure that Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf aren't around, as Cowan will need the roster spot, and he's got some stiff competition.
Guys like Michael Pezzetta, and Travis Boyd have loads of NHL experience, there's a logjam of veteran talent on the bottom half (needing Jarnkrok or Kampf gone) and even guys like Ben King, Luke Haymes, and Borya Valis may come into camp with strong showings.
There's a lot working against Cowan, but what he has is hope, and a whole lot of hype. He'll get his minutes and Craig Berube is going to be keeping a keen eye on how camp develops.
We know the team has taken risks in the past, and while he might not make the team right away: One injury to a Maple Leaf and an ensuing call-up may just change his career forever.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 15 | 1204 ANSWERS Easton Cowan Eyes Roster Spot, But Maple Leafs Plan to Make It Difficult Do you think Easton Cowan can make the Maple Leafs out of training camp? | ||
| Yes | 931 | 77.3 % |
| No | 273 | 22.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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