Maple Leafs can't completely rule out trading Easton Cowan

The emergence of Easton Cowan has been a pleasant surprise this season as he's really started to look like an everyday NHL player and while the offense is not blowing people away, he's still shown glimpses of that brilliance and been a key part of the team's hot streak over the last nine games.

However there was a time when he was very much a trade candidate, and reportedly was dangled to the St. Louis Blues as part of a package for veteran forward Brayden Schenn but that fell through.

If the Maple Leafs really want to make the strongest push they can this season, they also can't rule out dangling him yet again; even if many feel they shouldn't.

There's a lot of talk about who the Maple Leafs are trying to acquire this season in order to once again make a push to not only get into the playoffs but find a way to exorcise their second-round demons.

They've been linked to a lot of high-end names like Rasmus Andersson, Dougie Hamilton, Jaden Schwartz, Steven Stamkos, and have been part of pretty much every rumor over the last three months.

But with demand high and supply low, the Maple Leafs are going to need to pay a high price, and Cowan will likely be part of a huge package to bring in one or several players.

If Toronto were to target someone like Andersson from Calgary but also see if they can snag a player like Blake Coleman or Nazem Kadri to shore things up then it's going to cost them a lot more.

Cowan was dangled for Schenn so we know that Brad Treliving isn't shy about offering him for veteran help, but should he?

The rookie has found his spot in the lineup alongside Nick Robertson and Nicolas Roy, he scored the game-winner against Philadelphia last Thursday and has 13 points in 33 games; respectable numbers for a rookie.

Toronto doesn't have a lot of young, homegrown talent that they have nurtured and allowed to help grow. Joseph Woll and Matthew Knies are good examples of draft picks who grew into stars but a lot of the team was built on trades and signings.

Plus, it won't just be Cowan as part of the package and we could very well see others like Ben Danford coupled with him; and that ever-enticing 2028 first-round pick. Toronto has to decide if this is the time to splurge or ride it out and see what the summer brings.

Cowan is part of the future of the team, but if management decides that the now is a bigger priority, then they can't rule out sending the 'Cowboy' off to another town.

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