The Conversation the Maple Leafs Don't Want to Have About Easton Cowan
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
As much as Toronto needs another top-six forward, the team can't afford to trade Easton Cowan according to analyst Jay Rosehill as it will haunt them for decades.
It was a little disheartening to hear that the Maple Leafs had to send Easton Cowan down to the AHL in order to make room for Scott Laughton, as it seemed like he was a bright spot in an up and down season.
But the team has looked stronger recently and getting their injured back meant that Cowan's demotion was a necessary evil.
Though he is expected to be a huge part of the future for years to come, there is always the chance the team might entertain a deal for the rookie forward, especially if it brings them a premium top-six piece.
However according to some, that's not the best decision to make.
Insiders Quietly Question Whether Easton Cowan Should Stay Untouchable
Speaking on a recent episode of Leafs Morning Take, analyst Jay Rosehill was asked by co-host Nick Alberga how he feels about a potential Cowan trade.
For the former Maple Leafs defenseman, it was a scenario he would rather not think about:
I don't think I like it, man. If things don't work this year and, you know, the D's getting older and all of a sudden, like, you're going to be talking, we're not in the mix to win this year and we have nothing coming down the barrel.
Now you're starting to talk about some dark years, right? And you have to think about that.
Now you're starting to talk about some dark years, right? And you have to think about that.
We've seen some pretty dark years over the past decade, and their stretch from 2013-2016 as well as a dismal 2019 season has shown that without a clear direction, this team just spins its wheels.
Why Trading Him Could Be the Kind of Mistake That Haunts Toronto for Years
But Rosehill also warned that history has a bad habit of repeating itself, and that the team can't risk losing out on someone who could be their anchor for years to come:
To get rid of Cowan for what you'd get for him, in my mind, what I'm thinking, I'm just thinking, don't do it. Like, Cowan can be that effective himself.
Mark my words, you trade that guy over the next 10, 12, 15 years, you will be watching him do damage throughout the year everywhere else, having playoff success. He's a gritty playoff type of guy, too.
You will watch him win, and everyone will say, remember when they dealt him for so-and-so? Like, I'm not interested in that.
Mark my words, you trade that guy over the next 10, 12, 15 years, you will be watching him do damage throughout the year everywhere else, having playoff success. He's a gritty playoff type of guy, too.
You will watch him win, and everyone will say, remember when they dealt him for so-and-so? Like, I'm not interested in that.
Fans are still reeling from a horrible Tuukka Rask trade twenty years ago and talk about what could have been, and if Cowan were to go elsewhere and become a Cup winner or playoff demon; it's going to haunt Toronto potentially even longer.
You're also trading for a player who is a wildcard. Whoever it is; Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Nazem Kadri, or Brayden Schenn -- they aren't guaranteed to help the team.
It's a lot more comforting for a GM to find a veteran player who has the reliability of a Kadri or Rust, but at their cost and age you're only getting a couple of good years before a potential downfall.
Plus, who is going to take over the reins when Auston Matthews, William Nylander and co. get older? Cowan will be 24 when John Tavares' contract is up, so it's likely they want him as part of his replacement plan.
All of these factors make it way too risky to trade Easton Cowan, and if Toronto wants to avoid some severe backlash from their fans and supporters they would do best to hold onto him as long as they can.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 7 | 923 ANSWERS The Conversation the Maple Leafs Don't Want to Have About Easton Cowan Would you trade Easton Cowan for a top-six player or is that too risky? | ||
| Trade Him! | 206 | 22.3 % |
| Too Risky! | 717 | 77.7 % |
| List of polls | ||