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Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Faces Long Odds in Calder Trophy Race

Easton Cowan was a dominant force last year for the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights but he is not garnering much attention for the NHL's top rookie award.

By Jeremy Franks

Sep 25, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan (53) skates during warm up before a game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan (53) skates during warm up before a game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports / John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
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Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan is used to being disrespected. It started immediately after being drafted 28th overall by Toronto during the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

The consensus at the time was that the Toronto Maple Leafs reached by going off the board when taking Cowan. He responded to the doubts by earning a prolonged look during last year's training camp. He parlayed that impressive preseason showing into a dominant season with the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights.

Cowan led the Knights to an OHL championship and Memorial Cup Final. He earned the Red Tilson Trophy for the most outstanding player and the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award for playoff MVP.

The early returns suggest the Leafs made a great pick in Cowan. The young forward now has his sights set on making the big club when training begins next month. Despite all the positive momentum, the Maple Leafs prospect is considered a long shot to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.

Toronto Maple Leafs Rookie Faces Many Obstacles in Calder Quest

The top contenders for rookie-of-the-year honors are expected to play important roles immediately for their respective teams. The first overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, Macklin Celebrini, is joining a San Jose Sharks team bereft of talent.

Other candidates for the award, including teammate Will Smith (tied for fourth-best odds) share the same luxury. Cutter Gauthier (Anaheim Ducks), Lane Hutson (Montreal Canadiens), and Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames) are all expected to have prominent roles on teams that didn't make last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers is the top choice for winning the Calder Trophy. He too will join a non-playoff team, albeit one that missed the 2023-2024 postseason by only four points.
Michkov is surrounded by more talented teammates than the other award contenders. The teenager also has the experience from a year in the KHL. He is expected to play a top-six role with the Flyers.

Cowan is not joining a subpar team. The Leafs have the league's longest streak of consecutive seasons of making the playoffs (eight) and are loaded within their top six forwards. Should Cowan make the team it will be in a bottom-six role without offensive opportunities that other first-year players will receive.

It will be harder for Cowan to earn a spot on the veteran-laden Maple Leafs roster than his rookie competitors on other teams. He will also receive stiff competition from Fraser Minten, who made the Leafs last preseason and played four games with Toronto.

Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Faces Long Odds in Calder Trophy Race

The Leafs do not have a player listed among the top contenders for the Calder Trophy. Both Cowan and Minten fall under the "other" category at +5000 or higher to win the award.

Cowan is not a big player but makes up for it with his grit and determination. Those traits are immeasurable, but should not be underestimated. It reflects in his play on the ice and his interviews off of it.

The prospect turned the negative criticism from the Leafs drafting him into a positive. He used it as extra motivation to prove the doubters wrong. By the end of last season, Cowan had turned the naysayers into believers. The Maple Leafs were being applauded for their pick.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect has clear intentions for the upcoming season. Don't be surprised if he works his way into Calder Trophy consideration.