There may not be a more intriguing player on the Maple Leafs than Easton Cowan.
He is the team鈥檚 top prospect, a Memorial Cup champion and MVP. He plays the same position, right wing, as the dearly departed Mitch Marner. He possesses more of Marner鈥檚 electrifying offensive ability than any other newcomer.
The question surrounding him isn鈥檛 whether the team鈥檚 first-round pick from the 2023 draft can play in the NHL, but when?
鈥淚s that in October? Is that November? Is that sometime else? We’ll see,鈥 Leafs general manager Brad Treliving told the Star this week. 鈥淚’m looking forward to seeing him.
鈥淣ow that’s not putting any expectations or pressure (on him). He’s going to find his way.鈥
Cowan鈥檚 first year of professional hockey essentially begins this week with the Leafs’ rookie camp. He headlines a list of 15 forwards, nine defencemen and two goalies who will train Thursday and Friday at the Ford Performance Centre before heading to Montreal for a pair of games against Canadiens and Ottawa Senators prospects.
But his real test will begin next week at his third main camp with the Leafs. He has been among the last cuts in each of the last two seasons. The first year went eye-poppingly well. The second lacked that panache.
鈥淚 think last camp, there was too many expectations on him,鈥 Leafs coach Craig Berube said. 鈥淗e probably felt that, too. He felt like he had to do some special things to make the lineup. He doesn’t need to do that.
鈥淓aston Cowan has got to be a predictable guy coming in here. He’s got to strip away junior habits quickly and just be straight-line forward. Be a hound and a forechecker. And that’s what he needs to get to here. The offence will take care of itself.鈥
Cowan did everything the Leafs could have hoped for when they sent him back to the London Knights for his final year of junior hockey. Cowan had 29 goals and 40 assists in 46 games, joined Canada for the world juniors, and was the best player in both the OHL and Memorial Cup playoffs.
鈥淗e was a great player for us,鈥 Knights coach Dale Hunter said. 鈥淗e’s fast and he’s tenacious. He wants to win. He pushes the envelope. He plays gritty. He’ll get in and forecheck hard and go in the corners. He鈥檚 not afraid.鈥
Those are qualities Berube and Treliving both appreciate.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a young player. He’s gone through the proper process,鈥 Treliving said of the 20-year-old. 鈥淓aston came in a couple years ago and created a little buzz in camp. And everybody wanted to rush him. He needed to go back and experience all the things that he experienced.鈥
Where will Cowan fit in a main camp that will have Max Domi, Matias Maccelli, Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann fighting for two spots in the top six, and about 18 NHL-calibre forwards trying to earn 12 jobs?
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to strip him down a bit,鈥 Berube said. 鈥淚’m not trying to take away his offence. But he’s got to get pucks out of the zone. He’s got to play good defence, play in straight lines, get pucks deep and go to work.
鈥淚’m excited. I think he’s put some weight on this summer. He’s gotten stronger and had a good summer. So I think he’s more prepared this year than he’s ever been.”
The smart money suggests he will land with the Marlies, getting a full year in the AHL to adjust to the pro level. But it鈥檚 up to the player.
鈥淭here鈥檚 certainly opportunity,鈥 Treliving said. 鈥淭here’s opportunity for any player that we think can help us win, regardless of who you are. If you can come in and help our team be better, it doesn’t matter if you’re 20, if you’re 22, if you’re 32. That’s what we’re looking for.鈥
The rookie tournament
Other notable Leafs prospects in the weekend tournament at Montreal鈥檚 Bell Centre include defenceman Ben Danford and forwards Miroslav Holinka, Tyler Hopkins and Ryan Tverberg聽鈥 Marlies coach John Gruden will oversee the team 鈥 The Leafs rookies will play Ottawa on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Montreal on Sunday at 3 p.m.
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