Easton Cowan
Who wouldn’t be excited to see the phenom that could be turning out to be one of the Maple Leafs best draft picks this decade?
Don’t forget, it wasn’t just too long ago when many had their doubts when Toronto selected Easton Cowan with their first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. That was because many scouts had him pegged for the later rounds. Well, we certainly understand why he was surprisingly selected so early now.
Following a strong finish to his 2022-23 season with the London Knights, Cowan has followed it up with a huge breakout season this past year.
Not only was he a part of Canada’s World Juniors hockey squad, he also played a massive role in helping the Knights capture the OHL championship, as well as finishing runner-up in the Memorial Cup.
Cowan ranked seventh in league scoring with 34 goals, 62 assists for 96 points during the regular season while leading all scorers in the OHL playoffs with 10 goals, 24 assists for 34 points in just 18 games.
Cowan had already made quite the impression in front of the Leafs brass during last year at training camp. Now, following his advancement in hockey IQ and smart vision on the ice as a result of another year of development, don’t be surprised that the 19-year-old will make the Maple Leafs roster out of camp this time around.
And unlike Fraser Minten from last season, Cowan won’t be just there for a cameo, but will likely become an important piece in their everyday lineup.