Easton Cowan Reveals His Mindset Entering First Season With the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Easton Cowan is heading into his first NHL season with the confidence of a long-term veteran and is ready to make an impact.
Playing himself into the lineup this preseason, Easton Cowan is set to make his NHL debut when the Maple Leafs take the ice on October 8th against the Montreal Canadiens; a fitting way to get his feet wet by facing off against his team's oldest rivals.
While he hasn't been the dominant offensive force he was in London, he's been playing incredibly well at both ends of the ice, and has put up two points, eight shots, and is averaging over 17 minutes TOI.
His chemistry on Toronto's bottom-six has been a pleasant surprise, and he played himself ahead of names like David Kampf and even perhaps Nick Robertson.
What Easton Cowan Learned From His First Maple Leafs Camp
Though it hasn't been as successful on the scoresheet, or in the standings, Cowan feels confident that he's taken the necessary steps to make sure he has a long NHL career and knows being with the team is where he's meant to be:
I'd say so. Ever since day one, I've had that day-by-day mindset, so I'm gonna stick with it.
I felt like I did good things and played some of my best hockey I've played in a while.
And that's a good 200-foot game, generating chances. Eventually, they're going to go in. So I'm just going to keep having that mindset and keeping it day-by-day, like I've been saying.
I felt like I did good things and played some of my best hockey I've played in a while.
And that's a good 200-foot game, generating chances. Eventually, they're going to go in. So I'm just going to keep having that mindset and keeping it day-by-day, like I've been saying.
It's an incredibly mature mindset for Cowan to have already, and knowing that his game doesn't rely on offense alone already speaks to his overall hockey IQ.
How Easton Cowan Plans to Keep His Spot in Toronto
Well, besides giving the team a much needed injection of youth, it's going to be the first time in a long time that Toronto's had such a highly touted prospect who worked his way up to earn a shot with the team.
But it's through sheer determination, hard work, and a relentless engine that's earning Cowan praise. Craig Berube singled out his defensive work and how he's truly focused on being a 200-foot player.
He's also lucked out a bit let's be honest, veterans like David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok have fallen out with Craig Berube to various extents, and that in turn opened up a spot for Cowan to fight for; newcomers added or not.
Fraser Minten came in last season and flourished before Toronto traded him away, and he looks ready to do some damage with the Bruins this season.
Cowan can follow in his footsteps and start making himself a household name and prove why all the hype surrounding him wasn't just hyperbole.
If he can take what he learned in the preseason and evolve it, he will become a player the Maple Leafs depend on for the next decade.
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