Easton Cowan is already auditioning for the next Maple Leafs head coach while his teammates sit at home
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Easton Cowan says a lot on the Leafs head coach, without speaking directly on the situation.
Currently playing with the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League playoffs, the 20-year-old Cowan spoke on the parent team's decision to dismiss Craig Berube as the team's head coach.
Cowan, who appeared in 66 games this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, gave brief comments on Berube being let go, indicating that his playoff run is an audition for the next coach.
I'm just going to keep playing my game. Obviously someone new is coming in.
They're probably watching, whoever it is, so keep competing, keep playing my game leading into the summer, have a good summer and be ready for camp. - Easton Cowan
They're probably watching, whoever it is, so keep competing, keep playing my game leading into the summer, have a good summer and be ready for camp. - Easton Cowan
The candidates being linked to the Toronto job- Bruce Cassidy, Peter Laviolette, Manny Malhotra all run different systems. A coach watching Cowan in the AHL playoffs is seeing him in a high-pressure top six role with the puck on his stick.
Having primarily played for the Leafs this season, with four AHL regular season appearances, Toronto being eliminated from the playoffs allowed him to join the Marlies, currently in the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Cowan's exact words show he understands the Marlies playoff run is his audition tape for whoever Chayka hires next
Under Craig Berube, the Toronto Maple Leafs failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Cowan, one of the few Leafs currently playing playoff hockey, gains a potential advantage from appearing in postseason play.
Cowan, having proven to Craig Berube that he can make the jump from junior hockey to the NHL, bypassing the AHL, Cowan now gets to use the minors as a way to prove himself to whoever Toronto hires next.
This playoff run could allow for Cowan to step up as a Leader on the Marlies, already with six points in eight games, taking his game up a level could make a strong impression for the next coach.
The real test for Cowan will come with the Leafs preseason to prove his rookie season wasn't a fluke, but he gets a headstart for any coaching hire scouting the Leafs roster right away.
Cowan playing in the Calder Cup playoffs gives him the rare offseason advantage no other Maple Leafs forward has
The rest of the Toronto Maple Leafs hit offseason mode earlier than the team would have liked, except for Easton Cowan who gets the playoff experience he missed out on in the NHL.
As a rookie, Cowan is eligible to play in the AHL playoffs despite his lack of games played, and with it he gets a golden opportunity to not just get postseason games, but to dominate as well.
Cowan also gets the chance to translate his junior hockey postseason success to the pros. Cowan was a Memorial Cup and OHL champion in junior, as well as Memorial Cup MVP.
There are very few active players with the junior resume of Easton Cowan, now what he has to do is prove that dominance can translate up a level, and give him experience for an NHL playoff run the Leafs are desperate to ensure next year.
Although in year one Easton Cowan was denied an NHL playoff chance, he gets a second chance in the minors. While the rest of the Maple Leafs sit at home,
he is making the case to be a building block for the next head coach.
he is making the case to be a building block for the next head coach.
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Peter Laviolette publicly pitched himself for the Maple Leafs job and his Carolina Cup story was the closer
Peter Laviolette publicly pitched himself for the Maple Leafs job and his Carolina Cup story was the closer
Previously on Hockey Patrol