Maple Leafs rookie Easton Cowan isn’t taken aback in the slightest at what fellow NHL freshman Beckett Sennecke is doing for the Anaheim Ducks.
Though Cowan and the London Knights beat Sennecke and the Oshawa Generals in each of the past two Ontario Hockey League championship series, the young Leafs forward came to quickly respect how Sennecke played for the Generals.
And now here’s Sennecke, a Toronto native, in town to play for the first time in the NHL at Scotiabank Arena and tied for first in scoring among NHL rookies.
Before the Leafs and Ducks met on Thursday night, Sennecke and Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov sat atop the rookie scoring race with 51 points each.
“I’m not too surprised at all, you could see that coming,” Cowan said on Thursday morning. “Big body, handles the puck very well, works very hard. Good on him.”
Picked third overall by the Ducks in 2024, Sennecke has experienced rapid growth since. Last spring, Cowan led the OHL in playoff scoring with 39 points while Sennecke wasn’t far off with 32 points.
How has Sennecke gained Ducks trust?
Now, Sennecke has gained the trust of Ducks coach Joel Quenneville to the point that the 6-foot-3, 206-pound right winger was leading first-year NHL forwards in ice time with an average of 17 minutes 37 seconds a game.
“His camp was very ordinary, and then I think he’s progressed every single day (since),” Quenneville said. “He has got stronger, probably feels more comfortable with his game.
“He’s playing against strong guys, but I think he’s showing that he can hold his own in tight areas and has secondary strength in puck areas, where all of a sudden he does sustain some pucks. He can get a shot away in tight areas. He’s very evasive.
“He’s learning on the job, but you have to love his attitude and the way he approaches, coming to the game every day, he’s smiling, he’s happy. He has had a really good start to his career.”
Sennecke is bound to get some Calder Trophy votes, but there’s really no way there can be any winner but 18-year-old New York Islanders defenceman Matthew Schaefer. Only 16 NHL D-men have had more ice time on average than Schaefer and he’s tied with Sennecke and Montreal’s Oliver Kapanen for most goals by a rookie with 20.
When will Matthew Schaefer play in Toronto?
Leafs fans should be in for a special night on Tuesday when Schaefer and the Isles make their lone visit to Toronto on Tuesday.
For Cowan, who is eight months older than Sennecke, the adjustment to everyday life in the NHL in 2025-26 hasn’t been as smooth. The growing pains that can be part of making the transition to the NHL from junior hockey have been evident for Cowan.
Still, his future remains bright. A longer look on a line with captain Auston Matthews had been granted by Leafs coach Craig Berube heading into Thursday night.
Cowan, who has 20 points in 49 games, has handled moving up and down the Leafs forwards lines with patience.
“That just comes with the challenge I find, being able to play everywhere in the lineup, whether that’s bottom six, top six, or if you’re on the power play or not,” Cowan said.
“I’m just focused on getting a win, taking it day-by-day, trying to get better and trying to help this team get out of this little slump we’re in (0-6-2 in eight games before Thursday).”
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