With the Toronto Maple Leafs set to take on the Detroit Red Wings, it's looking like Easton Cowan's debut is going to need to wait. So what's the plan for him?
Saturday night's slate of NHL games is going to feature all 32 teams as we get the first weekend hockey of the season, and we get several Original Six matchups.
One of those is the Toronto Maple Leafs taking on the Detroit Red Wings. Coming off a 5-2 win over Montreal to kick things off, the blue and white will look to make it two in a row at home.
Focus has been all on whether or not Easton Cowan will make his NHL debut, as it would give him the perfect chance to get his feet wet, while also giving fans a glimpse of the star he could grow into becoming.
Craig Berube said there would be decisions made, and while nothing is certainly set in stone yet, from the looks of things at practice: Cowan is going to need to wait.
According to David Alter, live at the team's skate ahead of Saturday's game, Cowan, forward Sammy Blais and defenseman Philippe Myers were all skating post-practice, a sign that they are going to be scratched.
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It's frustrating for fans who are getting a bit antsy when it comes to Cowan's debut, and it might start to become an issue for Brad Treliving and Craig Berube the longer they drag it out.
Why the Leafs Believe Patience Will Pay Off With Easton Cowan
Treliving said if they had him up, then he needs to play; if not he needs to develop in the AHL. Perfectly fine.
But Craig Berube said he's ready to go, and he clearly trusted him enough to start him in five preseason games (including two against Detroit) so...why not start him?
It's also a bit contradictory to how Berube's operated in the past, often utilizing rookies and even giving Dakota Joshua his start; and now look where he's come.
This isn't Game 82 where the Maple Leafs are clinging onto a postseason berth. It's Game 2 of the season, so you can tinker and it doesn't ruin anything.
Scratch Max Domi for a game, move Nic Roy back to the 3C and slide Cowan along with him and Dakota Joshua. Drop Nick Robertson to the fourth line with Calle Jarnkrok and Steven Lorentz.
People tend to forget Lorentz is a natural center with nearly a 50% face-off win percentage over his career, and it's not just a small sample size (over 1,100 face-offs).
Clearly the team wants Cowan to play meaningful minutes and doesn't want him to toil on a line playing 7 minutes a night, and feel his development would be better suited to top minutes against lesser competition.
Which is why it would be best for the team to take their lumps while they can, bite the bullet and debut Cowan in that more premium third-line role.
If he doesn't make an impact or looks shaky, then you send him down; no harm, no foul.
If he comes in like Fraser Minten did and make a serious difference, then it leads to one question.
What have the Toronto Maple Leafs been waiting for?