Easton Cowan's Fate With the Maple Leafs May Have Taken a Big Turn After Berube's Comments
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
With Craig Berube's recent comments regarding Easton Cowan, it shows that while he might have impressed so far, he needs to finish the preseason off very strong.
This season there's a lot of excitement and hype around a new look Maple Leafs team who is firmly in the middle of a transition period where they ended up moving on from the Core Four era, into a tougher more cohesive identity.
Part of that excitement and hype is due in part to Easton Cowan and his impressive performance so far in the preseason has earned a lot of high marks from both head coach Craig Berube and captain Auston Matthews.
Craig Berube Wants More From Easton Cowan This Preseason
But it was Berube's recent comments that show that while Cowan has done well so far, he can't assume he's locked up a roster spot and needs to keep fighting just as hard as he has until the bitter end:
I can't answer that question.... I'd be putting him in a bad spot, us in a bad spot, everybody in a bad spot by saying what he has to do to make the team. Just keep playing. We'll make decisions with time.
It's obvious that Berube doesn't want to show his hand yet, and doesn't want to put unwarranted pressure on the young prospect, and just wants him to keep doing what he's doing; which is the status quo for Berube.
Maple Leafs Practice Lines Show Toronto Believes In Cowan
Well he's certainly giving him every chance to play that's for sure, as the lines in practice on Monday had Cowan lining up again with Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz which was an extremely dominant line last week against Montreal.
Those practice lines look very, very similar to a group that we would see in the regular season, and with Cowan penciled in currently as the fourth-line winger; there's a lot of potential to be had there.
We still need to see how he does the rest of the preseason and whether or not he continues to impress, but giving him the chance to build off that momentum and give him every chance to succeed has to be a giant boost to his confidence.
Cowan's Spot Threatened By Familiar Veterans
However, that spot certainly isn't set in stone by any means and we still have Nick Robertson and Calle Jarnkrok, who until they are traded or waived, are part of the team going forward.
That's too many players for too little spots, and much like Cowan, both men have been given a chance to succeed this preseason and though they had some flashes of brilliance, it hasn't been as strong as Cowan's game thus far.
But they do have that all-too important NHL experience, which as we all know is a huge benefit to a lineup regardless of hype. Cowan is going to get his chances, and they very well may be this season but perhaps not at the start.
All he needs to do though is keep doing what Craig Berube asks of him, and so far all signs point to him having a very good shot at making the team.
But nothing is guaranteed, and he'll have to use the next two games to show everyone why he's undeniable.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 29 | 2487 ANSWERS Easton Cowan's Fate With the Maple Leafs May Have Taken a Big Turn After Berube's Comments Do you think Easton Cowan will make the Maple Leafs this season? | ||
| Yes | 1968 | 79.1 % |
| No | 519 | 20.9 % |
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