The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t been forced to develop many prospects in recent years. As a near-constant playoff participant with Stanley Cup aspirations, they’ve often opted to trade away draft capital in an effort to win now.
Over the last seven drafts, they’ve selected in the first round just three times, usually in the latter half thanks to their strong finishes in the standings. Easton Cowan (28th overall in 2023) was one of those picks, and his debut season with the team has had its ups and downs thus far.
Making the team as a 20-year-old out of training camp was a great story in itself, and there have been flashes of the high-end skill that makes you envision him eventually turning into a legitimate point producer at the NHL level. That said, there have also been plenty of moments where his age and lack of physical maturity have shown, which is understandable; jumping into a grown man’s league is no easy task.
All in all, his 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 26 games are quite solid for a rookie averaging just 14:45 per night; however, he’s now hit a bit of a roadblock in his debut campaign.
After seeing his minutes drop in the week leading up to it, Cowan was then scratched Sunday night in Dallas, with head coach Craig Berube saying it was time for him to watch a game from the press box. Tuesday afternoon against Pittsburgh brought more of the same, as he was a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game, and with the way Matias Maccelli has looked in his place, it’s fair to wonder whether that trend could continue after the holiday break.
His recent usage has drawn the ire of fans, many of whom are questioning the fluctuation in his ice time—especially with several forwards who make little impact continuing to dress night after night. With that in mind, it feels like it’s about time to start evaluating the different avenues the Maple Leafs can take with Cowan moving forward to best support his development.
Toronto’s options with Easton Cowan
It boils down to three options for the Maple Leafs when it comes to Cowan.