Easton Cowan suddenly has the most to lose in the Maple Leafs' new lineup

With all the new additions and a focus on growing Gavin McKenna, it looks like Easton Cowan has the most to lose when it comes to the Maple Leafs lineup.

Toronto really made a push this offseason to improve the bottom-six adding names like Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Brandon Duhaime and Teddy Blueger while also adding Gavin McKenna in the draft. Suddenly the team had a wealth of versatility and options for Jim Hiller in the latter half of the lineup and he's got some decisions to make.

With McKenna projected to slot somewhere in the first two lines and newcomer Jack Roslovic also finding himself projected to find himself in a top-six position - that leaves Easton Cowan as someone possibly on the outside looking in.

Toronto's new forward depth has narrowed Easton Cowan's path to the top-six

The Maple Leafs already have a lot of minutes locked up between Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, William Nylander, and John Tavares so right there is four forward spots occupied (2 centre, 2 wingers).

Gavin McKenna is expected get every chance on the first or second line because the team wants to see what he can offer while also trying not to push him too heavily into high-pressure situations. As the first overall pick and a potential superstar in the NHL, Toronto needs to see as much of him as possible so minutes will be prioritized for him.

Newcomers Nick Paul and Jack Roslovic are proven NHL talents who are versatile and can play both centre and wing.

Both are capable 20-goal scorers as well. Paul has the advantage being a defensively sound player with proven playoff credentials in a premium position and Roslovic is a player with experience playing alongside Matthews with the US National Development Program.

That leaves Cowan on the outside looking in and while there's still a chance for him to improve on the third line, it only comes with consistent puck touches, and a clear plan to ease him more into the offence.

Cowan had 218 points from 2022-2025 with London including 135 assists so if there's anyone who could help with playmaking it's him but he doesn't have a direct route to the top-six compared to the end of last year.

Cowan needs more than a roster spot to develop

At one point, Cowan was viewed at as the team's top prospect and the future of the team. While no one could have the foresight to know McKenna was coming in, the focus shifted towards him and making sure Auston Matthews has enough help to win while he's here.

The former isn't as big an issue as Cowan and McKenna can grow together and be the building blocks for the future of the Maple Leafs, but if you're going to favour veteran minutes in order to win he might not be 100% ready for that bigger role.

While it's a balancing act for sure, Hiller shouldn't be hesitant to throw Cowan into a top-six role if a player like Roslovic can't get it going quick enough. With Matthews needing players to gain possession and get him the puck, Cowan's pace, drive, and uber-competitive nature could make him an option if the others don't work out.

Training camp is going to be a real test for him to prove not only his offensive merit but an added level of defensive skill that can keep him in the lineup more often and an early Marlies stint to give him loads of minutes and chances to build his confidence could be an option.

That gives him top-line and special teams assignments that would be better long-term than a limited role in the NHL.

It's a big risk keeping Cowan up with the team if there isn't a definitive role for him. Starting the AHL may seem like a step back, but it could be a much better decision when it comes to overall growth.

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