4 options for the Toronto Maple Leafs to replace Nick Robertson

No. 4: Easton Cowan

Not only did Easton Cowan win the OHL Championship with the London Knights, but he was their best player, winning the playoff MVP.

This isn't a nothing award, as other future NHLers such as Mitch Marner, Connor McDavid, Nick Suzuki, Robert Thomas, Robby Fabbri and Bo Horvat have won it in recent history. Essentially if you win that award, there's a 90 percent chance that you're going to turn into a real star in the NHL, so the Leafs may have hit the jackpot with the No. 28 overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Cowan was a right-winger in junior, but he does shoot left, meaning that there's a strong possibility that he can step in and play at that position in the NHL. Based on the Leafs needs, it would make the most sense for him to play that side and be able to play with some high-end talent. Can you imagine if the team put him alongside John Tavares and Marner? They could have three former London Knights on one line who could do a ton of damage together.

As much as Cowan can't accomplish anything more in the OHL this year, it does feel like he's the longest shot to make the roster. At 19-years-old, he's still a very young player, but if he can have a big training camp, similar to Fraser Minten last year, I don't see why the Leafs wouldn't audition him for the first nine games.

I'd rather see him falter a little bit, but develop, playing in the NHL, versus dominating a league that he's better than every other player, so the Leafs should seriously give him a look. If Cowan can prove himself and is NHL ready, he'll give the Leafs the best chance to win next year.