4 Hot Takes For the 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs Season

No. 2: Easton Cowan will be Calder Trophy Finalist

I know that Cowan is only 19-years-old and we've only seen him play a few prospect games in a Leafs sweater, but this kid is exciting. After tearing up the Ontario Hockey League last year, there is no reason for him to return to junior and should instead be a nightly contributor in the NHL.

He's not going to be a point-per-game player like he was in junior, but if given an opportunity to play in the top-six, Cowan could be a 20-goal scorer and 60 point contributor right away. With the No. 28 overall selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Leafs struck gold with this pick and he's going to be an NHLer for a long time.

The one thing that is worrisome, similar to when Robertson joined the NHL, is his size, but he is shifty enough to avoid injury. At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Cowan is a little small, but he's essentially the same size as Mitch Marner and Marner has done a great job avoid injuries over his career.

Since Cowan is so dynamic and is shifty, similar to Marner, he should be able to stay healthy and contribute every night. Robertson is listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, but I think that's pretty generous, as injuries have piled up for him over the years. Then again, hockey is a dangerous game and injuries can be very random. Small players are not necessarily more injury prone.

Either way, I expect Cowan to be a contribute nightly and to be a finalist for the Calder Trophy, joining other Leafs such as Auston Matthews and Michael Bunting over the past 10 years.