Maple Leafs Practice Lines Hint at Easton Cowan's Fate Ahead of Opening Night
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The Maple Leafs' practice lines gave a pretty good indication of where Easton Cowan fits in the lineup as the team prepares for the season opener vs. Montreal.
Wednesday's season opener against Montreal is going to be the first test for the Maple Leafs without Mitch Marner, and the debut of several new faces who have joined the team as part of their coveted identity change.
There's a lot of anticipation surrounding names like Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua and Nic Roy, but no one is under the spotlight more than top prospect Easton Cowan.
Impressing both teammates and coaches this preseason, he skated in all five games and was given ample opportunity to make the team. He's survived so far, and thrived on the fourth line with Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz.
What the Latest Maple Leafs Lines Reveal About Easton Cowan's Role
However an injury to Laughton has necessitated a lineup change when it comes to the season opener, and things aren't exactly the way Craig Berube envisioned going into 2025.
Which is why Monday's practice saw a lineup that featured Cowan as part of the team, however only as the 13th forward; with Calle Jarnkrok taking his place on the wing:
Knies - Matthews - Maccelli
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Joshua - Domi - Robertson
Lorentz - Roy - Jarnkrok
Cowan
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Joshua - Domi - Robertson
Lorentz - Roy - Jarnkrok
Cowan
McCabe - Tanev
Rielly - Carlo
Ekman-Larsson - Benoit
Thrun - Myers
Rielly - Carlo
Ekman-Larsson - Benoit
Thrun - Myers
Stolarz
Hildeby
Hildeby
There's definitely a focus on creating two separate third lines here for Berube, with an offensively focused one in the third spot (3A) and the more defensive and gritty trio as your 'fourth' (3B realistically).
While this can obviously change before Wednesday, Craig Berube has decided he wants to start with a more NHL-ready lineup and perhaps use Cowan as a means to spark the offense or to swap in and out with Robertson.
Cowan earned it though, and while he had only two points in five preseason games, he was fantastic at both ends of the ice and gave Toronto every reason to believe he's ready to make the leap.
Why Cowan's Development Path Could Shape the Leafs' Depth This Season
By keeping Cowan with the team to learn and participate at the NHL level, and more than likely seeing his debut in the coming weeks, it not only gives him confidence but might push him to be even better.
Plus, it's not like the team is going to lose him and have to waive him to send him to the Marlies, and if they decide they want a more NHL-ready player instead, it's no harm, no foul.
But showing that trust in him to not only stick around and learn, but to also be trusted to contribute at both ends of the ice has to give Cowan a ton of motivation going into the season.
There's nowhere else for the 20-year old to really go. He dominated the OHL, and he's too good for the Marlies.
He's earned his spot with the Maple Leafs, and though he's not penciled in as an everyday starter, you can bet it won't be long until he forces his name into the conversation.
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