Analyst reveals key factor in whether or not Easton Cowan will play in the NHL this season
Photo credit: Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Easton Cowan has the opportunity to crack the Maple Leafs roster for opening night as long as he can prove to Craig Berube he can do one simple thing.
Like Fraser Minten did last training camp, Cowan has the opportunity to play himself onto the Leafs' opening night roster. Minten was able to do so by earning former head coach Sheldon Keefe's trust defensively, albeit against players that were not full-time NHLers in the preseason.
While Minten will either be on the Leafs or with the Marlies to begin the season, Cowan will either have to make the Leafs or will be sent back to the London Knights of the OHL due to his age. According to former Leaf and current analyst Mike Johnson, Cowan can avoid being sent back to the OHL as long as he impresses Craig Berube with his strong defensive play.
"If he can bring pace, be reliable, bring energy, the offense will be there eventually because he is a good player. That will give him a chance to make it as long as he can show he can play defense," said Johnson. "The biggest challenge for young players is getting the coach to trust you can play defense.
If he trusts you can -- and Nick Robertson sort of fell victim to this because coaches didn't trust he could play in his own end very well -- and if he can show that, then he can buy himself time to get more experience and more offense."
If he trusts you can -- and Nick Robertson sort of fell victim to this because coaches didn't trust he could play in his own end very well -- and if he can show that, then he can buy himself time to get more experience and more offense."
The offense is certainly plentiful for Cowan as he finished his OHL MVP season with 96 points in 54 games, including a point-streak that stretched for 36 games to end the regular season. It will be his growth on the defensive side of the puck, as Johnson said, that will earn him a spot, or at least a look with the Leafs.
Ahead of training camp, Cowan is doing everything he can to make a good first impression on new head coach Craig Berube including skipping London Knights training camp to focus on Maple Leafs training camp. It will be a matter of just a few weeks before we see if that decision pays off for him.
Source: Hockey DB
Easton Cowan Stats
Easton Cowan Stats
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
| POLL | ||
5 SEPTEMBRE | 255 ANSWERS Analyst reveals key factor in whether or not Easton Cowan will play in the NHL this season Will Cowan and Minten make the Leafs roster? | ||
| Yes to both | 106 | 41.6 % |
| Only Minten | 15 | 5.9 % |
| Only Cowan | 80 | 31.4 % |
| Neither | 54 | 21.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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