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A Toronto Maple Leafs rookie was unafraid of doing what other veteran mainstays have been reluctant to accomplish.
One of the ongoing narratives surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs is their need for more toughness. That’s nothing new. It’s been one of the main storylines surrounding the team for the last decade or so.
The hit on Auston Matthews, however, magnified that discussion exponentially. The lack of response to the hit, particularly from William Nylander, who was on the ice, has sparked intense debate on the matter.
Now, we can give Nylander a pass. He isn’t necessarily the most aggressive player in the NHL. But there were five other Maple Leafs players on the ice, and no one did anything about that hit.
That’s a situation that rookie Easton Cowan tried to rectify on his own. Cowan took matters into his own hands by retaliating against Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov late in the second period of the Maple Leafs match against the Bruins.
Zadorov nailed forward John Tavares with a hit from behind, drawing immediate ire from Cowan.
Easton Cowan goes after Zadorov after he hits Tavares from behind
That was the reaction that Leafs’ fans would have expected from anyone on the ice. And it had to be a 20-year-old rookie to lead the way.
It’s worth noting that Cowan is 6’0” and 190 pounds. He’s not exactly a little guy, but not as big as Zadorov. The 30-year-old Russian is 6’5” and 255 pounds. But that didn’t deter Cowan from going after Zadorov.
The matchup may have been lopsided, but that’s precisely why it matters so much. Cowan didn’t back down from a guy 10 years older and five inches taller than him.
If that’s the Maple Leafs’ core moving forward, the team might just be in good hands after all.
Toughness Has Always Been Major Point of Criticism for Maple Leafs
The lack of toughness has been no secret for the Maple Leafs. Over the years, the organization has tried to bring in resident tough guys to remedy the situation. There was Kyle Clifford. Then, there was Ryan Reaves.
But beyond an enforcer type, the Leafs haven’t really had the sort of players who can mix it up on the regular. That was a major weakness in the early days of the Shanaplan. The Leafs got bounced around by teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. Those perennially uneven first-round playoff matches were painfully evident.
Sure, the Leafs managed to get past the Lightning once and defeat the Ottawa Senators in a tougher-than-expected first-round series last year.
But again, the Maple Leafs fell to a much grittier team in the Florida Panthers.
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New Culture Could Be Emerging in Toronto
The biggest question about the team moving forward will be whether a new culture is forming. That’s a plausible outcome for the Maple Leafs amid the Matthews’ hit fallout.
The fact of the matter is that a new culture has to form in Toronto. The Maple Leafs can’t afford to go around and let other teams get away with the sorts of stunts Radko Gudas pulled off.
Sure, Gudas got a five-game suspension. But that’s a pittance compared to the damage he caused. Sitting in timeout for five minutes isn’t going to change one thing in Toronto.
Perhaps Cowan’s attitude will make other Leafs’ veterans a little ashamed of themselves. That might just be enough to kickstart a new path forward.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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