The Toronto Maple Leafs are actively trying to improve at the NHL Trade Deadline this year, so why not package their top prospect?
When the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Easton Cowan No. 28 overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, nobody expected the prospect to turn into the player he is today. He had a solid draft year, but excelled immediately after; winning an OHL Championship, while being named the MVP of the league.
He continued that spectacular play into the 2024-25 campaign, as he just had his unofficial point streak snapped at 65 games. That's amazing consistency and every NHL team would love to have him.
The Leafs have no issue in their top-six currently, as everyone is clicking. John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander are doing their jobs, but even more special is Matthew Knies and Bobby McMann, who are having career seasons.
However, the team's bottom-half is struggling. Max Domi, Nick Robertson, and Max Pacioretty should all be delivering more offense, but we've yet to see it. Personally, I still think Robertson is playing well, but has been completely snake-bitten this season, but he could benefit from playing alongside another skilled winger, or a change of scenery.
Eason Cowan is Toronto Maple Leafs Best Trade Chip
At this point in his junior career, Cowan has done everything you'd want. He's won a championship, an MVP and has represented Team Canada at multiple World Junior Championship's. He's a spectacular player, but would you rather hope that he turns into something at the NHL level next season, or would you rather trade for a player who you know can help this year?
Cowan is a very intriguing trade chip and if the Leafs want to go all-in right now, he's the one prospect you can trade and guarantee you get a great return for.
Can we all take a second and remember the type of value that Robertson had a few years ago? As mentioned, I do still believe in his talents, but if they traded him a few years ago at his peak, the Leafs could have got a great return for him, which would have helped them now.
You always need to balance the future and the now, but when it comes to the Leafs chances at winning a Stanley Cup, it's easy to argue that this is their best year. We don't know how much longer Mitch Marner or John Tavares will be here, and although they'll have a ton of cap-space if they leave, who knows if those players who replace them will be as good.
Trading Cowan would be a bold move this year, but it could be one that pays off tremendously.