Easton Cowan's month-long gap is fueling criticism of the Maple Leafs' development plan

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing pushback from members of the fanbase over a recent lack of playing time for rookie Easton Cowan.

The Leafs were unable to send Easton Cowan back down to the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League due to the 20-year-old exceeding a maximum in NHL games played to be eligible for a return to the minors during the Olympic break.

Cowan did not play in the Maple Leafs stretch out west to end the season before the break, having last played on January 29th against the Seattle Kraken.

Having resumed playing yesterday with a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Cowan again sat own, having missed his fourth consecutive game, but also nearly a month away from the ice, and it doesn't have many happy with how Cowan is being utilized.

Some Toronto Maple Leafs fans have expressed criticism with the team for Cowan continuing to be sidelined after being unable to return to the minors during the break.

Cowan, 20, has seven goals, 10 assists, and 17 points in 43 games this season with the Leafs, but his ice time has seen a drop as Cowan seemingly finds himself outside of the Leafs lineup.

Cowan has another chance with Toronto coming into the second game of a back-to-back tonight against the Florida Panthers, which could see Cowan back with the main team.

Leafs head coach Craig Berube has emphasized that scratching players is rarely because of a lack of trust, but to keep a winning team going, which would track with Toronto having won their last three without Cowan prior to the break, but the loss against Tampa could change things.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs head towards the end of a challenging season, there can only be more of an opportunity for Easton Cowan to earn the Leafs trust as it is needed.

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