The Toronto Maple Leafs look like geniuses for drafting forward Easton Cowan in the first round of the 2023 NHL draft.
What looked like an off-the-board selection for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the time is starting to look like the right move.
Cowan has set a new London Knights record for most consecutive games with a point.
He registered two assists in the London Knights game on Sunday, March 17th, to set the point streak record to 34 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Breaks Record
The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Cowan 28th overall in the first round of the 2023 NHL draft.
I don't think any other team had him as high as a first-round pick, but the Leafs scouts liked what they saw. During his draft year, Cowan registered 20 goals and 33 assists for 53 points in 68 games. Impressive numbers for sure, but nothing that jumps off the page. A major factor in why the Leafs selected him so high is the fact that they did not have another pick until the fifth round.
(All stats from eliteprospects.com)
When you have a player or two who you really want to draft, you need to do whatever it takes to draft that player. The Leafs not selecting Cowan 28th overall means they would have lost him to another team in the second or third round. However, fast-forward a year, and getting Cowan at 28th overall looks like a steal for the Leafs. So far, Cowan has 32 goals and 60 assists for 92 points in 52 games. He is on pace for 95 points in 54 games.
Cowan is currently seventh in OHL scoring, and as impressive as Cowan has been this season, I wouldn't be surprised if the Leafs decide to allow Cowan to play one more season in the OHL before turning pro. That said, in a salary cap league a player who can help the team on an entry-level contract is invaluable to a team trying to win the Stanley Cup, so he will likely be given every chance to make it.
Even though he would help the Leafs if he's good enough, the most likely scenario is that they he does another year of junior before moving him to the Toronto Marlies in the AHL at the conclusion of his 2024-25 OHL season. By the time the 2025-26 NHL season is ready to begin, Cowan should be challenging for a roster spot with the Leafs.
The future looks promising for the Leafs with Cowan, Fraser Minten, and Matthew Knies. Hopefully, we'll see all three of them playing together soon.