Maple Leafs Prospect Already Showing Flashes of a Young Brad Marchand

After not moving top prospect Easton Cowan following a purge of the Toronto Maple Leafs farm system and prospect pool, the Toronto Maple Leafs front office has shown their faith in Cowan by keeping him apart of the organization and potentially giving him a chance at the Leafs lineup for this upcoming season.

who has finished off his CHL career with a Memorial Cup championship and two OHL titles, is poised to make a potential jump to the NHL, with him being afforded every opportunity to make the leap after his junior career.

After the loss of Mitch Marner, there's a hole on the Leafs top-six that hasn't been filled in free agency, and if he does well, the role could end up going to Cowan, who despite his age could contend for a spot like Matthew Knies did.

What could boost Cowan to the Leafs lineup isn't just related to his offensive game, but making it to the NHL, and sticking, could come from providing his defense and physicality, and Leafs killer Brad Marchand may be who Cowan should be modeling his game after.

If Easton Cowan wishes to succeed in the NHL, a player like Brad Marchand isn't just what the Toronto Maple Leafs need, but what Cowan could use to improve his game.

Like Marchand, Cowan is a smaller forward who plays with a lot of intensity and speed, but Marchand is more of a physically imposing player, and a lot more scrappy.

Marchand has gained a reputation across the NHL as one of the most agitating players in the league, known as a pest both in play and his ability to get under players skin.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have lacked a true agitator, with their main pest in Max Domi has quieted down a bit his antics, and the team's enforcer Ryan Reaves has been traded to San Jose.

The Leafs added to their ability to hit with two powerful forwards in Dakota Joshua and Michael Pezzetta, two heavy hitters who can be physical presences.

While people are probably growing tired of hearing about Mitch Marner in relation to the Leafs, it was not enough for Marner to be one of the top defensive forwards in the league, his physical side was lacking and it showed, the intensity to win at all costs.

If Easton Cowan wants to be a winner and dominate, he's going to have to become a lot harder to play against, and show a lot more away from the puck.