Easton Cowan faces his first elimination game today and every Maple Leafs fan should be watching
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Marlies could be out of the Calder Cup with a loss on Sunday and Easton Cowan is going to be under pressure to perform in his first pro elimination game.
On Sunday afternoon, the Toronto Marlies are going to try and keep their Calder Cup Playoff hopes alive with a win over Rochester and look to move on in the North Division to take on the Laval Rocket; setting up yet another Toronto/Montreal-esque rivalry.
They certainly have more than enough talent to get through the game, but they are going to need a full team effort to make sure that firepower doesn't start shooting blanks. A lot of that is going to lie on the shoulders of Easton Cowan; who needs to showcase that OHL Playoff-level talent on Sunday afternoon.
He better bring it too because the pressure is on, and considering it's his first professional elimination game — you know the weight is growing on his shoulders.
Cowan chose to join the Marlies after a 66-game NHL campaign and it tells you everything about his attitude
Cowan is Toronto's top prospect and is coming off a very solid rookie campaign in the NHL. He had 29 points in 66 games and despite sitting for a month earlier in the year; took it all in stride and managed to put up a good year.
But with him expected to carry not only the Marlies now but the Maple Leafs in the future, we need to see him step up and put together a legendary performance. If he were to put up a couple of goals, an assist, some hits, and solid defence then it's a great sign going forward.
He's already a bit of a pest, but he's also uber-competitive. He could have taken his ball and went home, relaxed this summer, then came back strong for camp. Instead, he wanted to win and keep up his reps as much as he could. If he could fit in John Tavares' suitcase for the World Championships you'd bet he would too.
That level of maturity and passion already at 20 years old shows that while there may not be a lot to be hopeful for right away, Cowan's improvement and progression is only going to skyrocket, especially if he wins the Calder Cup.
The Marlies Game 3 means more to the Maple Leafs future than any game they played in the NHL this year
Not only is it going to be important for Cowan to have a good game, but so too for names like Jacob Quillan, Bo Groulx, William Villeneuve, Marshall Rifai, and Luke Haymes among others. There are a ton of fringe NHL-ready players on the roster, and there are only so many spots.
If a couple guys come out of the woodwork to prove they are Maple Leafs material, it starts an internal battle for the bottom-six. Guys like Groulx have proven they can hang at both levels, meanwhile Haymes and Villeneuve are going to get heavy looks for the fourth line and third-pair D respectively.
They are the city's last hope at having meaningful hockey this season, so there's a lot of pressure from fans and the media for them to succeed. We can't have yet another Toronto team fail right?
If these guys step up, come into the game with cofidence in themselves and each other, then it's going to show that perhaps we've been looking at the wrong players the entire time.
Tonight is potentially their last chance to make a statement before training camp — and 'The Cowboy' is leading the charge on his blue and white stallion.
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