The Toronto Maple Leafs have committed a significant amount of their salary cap space to their star players. The cap hit for Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares all fall inside the top twelve NHL players for the 2024-2025 season.
The futures of Marner and Tavares with the Toronto Maple Leafs will be an ongoing topic of conversation leading up to their unrestricted free agency next summer.
With so much money allotted to its top players, it makes contributions from the Maple Leafs young, cheap talent necessary. In a salary-cap world, teams with inexpensive, productive players have a huge advantage.
During last year's training camp, two such youngsters surprised many with their performance and hope to find permanent roles on this year's team.
A Pair of Prospects That Can Boost the Fortunes of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Easton Cowan was an unheralded pick when the Leafs selected him 28th overall in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. The pick received mixed reviews. Ultimately, the next number of years will determine the pick's success, but the early returns are great.
During last year's Leafs training camp, Cowan stayed longer than expected and dominated the Ontario Hockey League with the London Knights. He received multiple awards in leading the Knights to the Memorial Cup Final.
His development over the last year must thrill the Maple Leafs. His projections have improved. "High ceiling and high floor' are descriptions used to describe his play. His offensive numbers were elite last year without compromising defensive play. Tenacious is also an oft-associated word to chronicle his play.
The Leafs do not need offense from Cowan. His defensive play will determine if he makes the team. Ideally, he shows he can be trusted playing a bottom-six role as he acclimates to the bigger, stronger players in the NHL.
Cowan does not have much to gain from another year of junior hockey. He has proven himself at that level. He must show he can handle a regular role with the Leafs. If so, he has a much higher ceiling than players such as David Kampf and Pontus Holmberg, making Toronto a more dangerous opponent.
The Leafs Have Options With Fraser Minten
Fraser Minter earned a cameo with the Maple Leafs last October. The former second-round pick (38th overall in 2022) played four NHL games before returning to junior.
Minten doesn't have the offensive chops of Cowan but is a defensively responsible player with size and hockey sense. He has position versatility. Like Cowan, he can play the wing or center.
The Leafs could assign Minten to the Toronto Marlies, their AHL affiliate. That option does not exist for Cowan. Both demonstrated during the Maple Leafs recent development camp that they are ready to push for a spot with the parent club.
The continued development of Cowan and Minten would be a boon for the Leafs. Either or both gaining a spot on the team would provide the Maple Leafs with many roster options.
Players such as projected fourth-line center David Kampf and winger Calle Jarnkrok could eventually be bumped from the lineup and replaced by the youngsters. This would help the team's salary cap situation and, after some time, add more offense. It would also provide the team with roster flexibility in the coming seasons.
These two players fighting for a roster spot will be one of the most intriguing storylines during the Toronto Maple Leafs preseason. There is no doubt that Leafs management and fans hope one or both players earn and keep a place in the lineup.