Maple Leafs Prospect Named One of the Most Intriguing Players Heading Into the Season
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect Easton Cowan is named a player to watch for next season, and someone urged to be an instant contributor.
Easton Cowan was named as one player who is looked at to be of importance for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as the young prospect will fight for a roster spot with the main team to start the season.
Although not a guarantee, there is hope that Cowan can quickly make it onto the Leafs roster and be impactful for the team, especially if he can be a replacement for Mitch Marner.
There's no expectation for Cowan to be Marner right away, but the hope is for him to be able to eventually take on the role once held by his fellow former London Knight on the right wing.
Former Maple Leaf Singles Out Toronto Prospect as One to Watch
For 'The Leafs Nation', former NHLer Jay Rosehill mentioned Cowan as one player who is intriguing headed into next season:
I hope he's ready to bang, and crash, and be a dick out there and rub some people the wrong way and ruffle some feathers.
I hope he has confidence coming out of the wazoo, and with how his season ended he should have confidence, he's done well and he's left the hiccup that was the World Juniors where things didn't go very well for him personally or the team.
He kinda left that in the rear view and put a cherry on top of his junior career with what he did at the Memorial Cup.
He (Cowan) stands out to me as "what is this guy going to do" and I hope that he's popping off the page and standing out to everybody, and earns a place on that team and contribute right away - Jay Rosehill
I hope he has confidence coming out of the wazoo, and with how his season ended he should have confidence, he's done well and he's left the hiccup that was the World Juniors where things didn't go very well for him personally or the team.
He kinda left that in the rear view and put a cherry on top of his junior career with what he did at the Memorial Cup.
He (Cowan) stands out to me as "what is this guy going to do" and I hope that he's popping off the page and standing out to everybody, and earns a place on that team and contribute right away - Jay Rosehill
Could Easton Cowan Make It To The NHL Next Season?
Easton Cowan is a strong candidate to make the Toronto Maple Leafs roster, but a lot needs to go right before that can happen.
First, Cowan will have to prove his capabilities on the defensive end. For all questions about Marner, he was always a skilled defensive winger, and Cowan will need to be one too, but also take on a physical role as well.
It's already known Cowan can create offense and be dynamic but the Leafs need physicality and they need someone who has the determination to be gritty and applying pressure, something that'll be essential for a smaller player like Cowan to prove he has.
Matthew Knies was able to come to the Leafs lineup and succeed quickly, but had a lot of the help come not just from his offense but his ability to play hard and contribute on defense. Cowan will need to show his physical side or he may wait a year with the Marlies.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will value Cowan's ability to play with energy and his proven playoff track record with a Memorial Cup and two OHL championships, having this past season won MVP for both.
It would not be the end of the world if Easton Cowan doesn't make the Leafs roster right away, but he could really be of use to a team that hasn't secured a top-six winger in the offseason and could really welcome the potential impact.
Training camp will be essential for Cowan and provide him with every chance to prove he belongs, but he'll need to prove a lot more than putting up offense, he'll have to prove he's ready to handle what comes with playing in the NHL.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 29 | 778 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Prospect Named One of the Most Intriguing Players Heading Into the Season Should Easton Cowan play for the Toronto Maple Leafs next season? | ||
| Yes | 650 | 83.5 % |
| No | 128 | 16.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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