Toronto blocked Easton Cowan from the Rasmus Andersson trade with Calgary protects the future
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The price for the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire defenseman Rasmus Andersson would have come at a major cost.
For Andersson, Darren Dreger reports that the Flames apparently trade ask to the Leafs included top rookie Easton Cowan, along with two first round picks.
Andersson, who was ultimately dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights at 50% retained, was moved for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, prospect Abram Wiebe, a first round pick, and conditional second round pick.
A much lighter price for only a singular first, although the second can become a first, a B-tier prospect in Wiebe, and a solid defenseman in Whitecloud, Cowan and two firsts would be much more substantial.
It's unknown if retention was discussed between the two sides, but Dreger's reporting indicates Toronto would have paid a much heftier return that what was ultimately given up by Vegas for Andersson.
The Maple Leafs said no to Calgary’s asking price and protected the most important young player in their rebuild
The Toronto Maple Leafs had not been discussing Easton Cowan heavily in trade reports, although he was floated as a potential return piece, which may have been what ended talks between the two sides.
Brad Treliving, who brought Andersson to Calgary while general manager of the Flames, was reported to have been active in trade talks for Andersson, the exact details having been unknown.
Cowan, 20, had 11 goals, 18 assists, & 29 points in 66 games in his first season with Toronto, having gone from not making the initial roster to becoming an integral piece on the Leafs top-six.
Having faced criticism from Leafs fans over the returns of their outgoing trade departures, moving Cowan may have ended up being the most unpopular of Treliving's trade moves.
Andersson, a 6'6 RHD, filled a clear need for the Leafs following an injury to Chris Tanev, although Andersson had questions over his price as an expiring contract and pending UFA at the end of this season.
Trading Cowan and two first round picks for a pending UFA defenseman would have set this franchise back years
If the Toronto Maple Leafs did take the risk of moving Rasmus Andersson for Easton Cowan, there would be a real chance it doesn't reverse Toronto's misfortunes.
Andersson likely wouldn't have done enough to boost Toronto late in the season and pull them back into a contending team.
If Andersson went to Toronto without an extension, failing to make the playoffs while dealing their top youngster, along with two picks, would have been a massive blow to the Leafs future.
Ultimately having been a bottom-five team, a player like Cowan is now trusted to be a piece for Toronto in the long-term, the Leafs too out of the playoff hunt to move Cowan at the deadline.
If the asking price for Rasmus Andersson started with Easton Cowan, the Leafs would have been right to end those talks, and not make a panicked overpay for only a small boost to the team's lineup, the Leafs avoiding overpay for an eventual bargain.
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