The last full Maple Leafs’ practice before final cuts — second-last before the season opener — had a measure of disappointment for Easton Cowan.
The rookie wasn’t on a regular forward line with Nick Robertson rising in rank from extra last week to third-line right wing with centre Max Domi and Dakota Joshua.
The fourth group, where Cowan had been with Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz, now consists of Lorentz, Nicolas Roy and Calle Jarnkrok, a result of Laughton’s foot injury that will sideline him a few weeks at least.
Cowan took solace in still being in the main camp, ahead of Monday evening’s 5 p.m. declaration of the 23-man roster Toronto will start the season with against Montreal on Wednesday.
“Just keep attacking it,” said Cowan, who has done all he could with the OHL London Knights the past two years, appearing in two Memorial Cups while racking up a slew of points. “Have a good mindset, be positive and hopefully I’ll play Wednesday.”
But on Saturday in Toronto’s final pre-season game in Detroit, Robertson out-shone Cowan and a few others, bookending his own strong training camp. Coach Craig Berube appears to be favouring the hard-shooting Robertson’s NHL experience ahead of Cowan, but cautioned “no decisions have been made, (Cowan’s) had a good camp.
“That’s where we’re at. You have to look at where your team is at, does he help us right now? What’s best for him?”
If Cowan isn’t going to be an NHL regular, it points to the Leafs using the option of starting him on the AHL Marlies without the need of waivers.
“I don’t know if there’s a right call on that,” Berube said, citing veterans who’ve benefitted from beginning the season in the minors.
Cowan, whom Berube clearly likes “as a player with a motor,” had his path to an NHL debut disrupted by Laughton’s injury. Berube found the whole process over the past couple of days, with his input to general manager Brad Treliving’s last cuts, to be the “toughest part of the job.”
“Because we like all our guys,” he added. “(but) it’s just business. I’m just impressed how players handle things today because I probably would’ve lost my marbles (as an NHLer in the 1980s and ‘90s).
“It’s hardest on them. I sit them down, talk to them about the whole situation and encourage them to keep working. It’s not like they’re not NHL players, it’s that you can only keep so many.”
Lorentz insisted Cowan won’t be dragging his lip around the dressing room and eventually would find a new line to thrive on.
“You’re here for a reason and the coach puts you in a spot you can contribute,” Lorentz said. “You’ve seen him in offensive and defensive situations, and he’s excelled at them all.
“You look at him and he seems like a baby, but he’s done fantastic and I’m happy or him. Playing in London, he’s got that winning pedigree and he doesn’t shy away from the biggest stages.”
Centre David Kampf, who seemed like a logical fit when Laughton was first hurt before Domi was taken off first-line wing and moved to centre, cleared waivers on the weekend and is eligible to be sent down.
Meanwhile, forward Michael Pezzetta and defencemen Dakota Mermis, Henry Thrun and Matt Benning also were on the Marlies pad with Kampf on Monday. awaiting news if they’d be claimed later in the afternoon.
As the roster cut-off deadline approached, Berube indicated Dennis Hildeby would be Anthony Stolarz’s backup on Wednesday, citing the Swede’s strong camp and so little playing time for Reimer under his PTO contract.
Reimer played an eventful half game in Detroit where the Wings put four man-advantage goals past him.
“(Reimer) is up in the air. That will play itself out,” the coach said.
Berube hinted there has been recent contact by the club with Joseph Woll, whose absence to deal with a personal matter led to Reimer’s arrival, but his return is not imminent.
Eventually, the 20 starting Leafs on Wednesday will have to put all the camp intrigue aside and prepare for the Canadiens, beginning 11 games in 22 days.
“It’s a new year, a new journey,” alternate captain John Tavares said. “You work all season to get to where you want to get to (in Toronto’ case to the third round of playoffs and beyond). We’re excited.”
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