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Insider Reveals Maple Leafs' Plan to Solve Roster Issue Ahead of Regular Season Opener

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Ryan Smitheram
September 26, 2025 (9:16)

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Easton Cowan's impressive training camp has led TSN's Chris Johnston and Darren Dreger to believe the Leafs will solve their roster issue at the expense of a veteran.

2023 first-round pick Easton Cowan is forcing the Leafs to put him on the opening night roster to begin his first pro season.

The 20-year-old played in his third pre-season game on Thursday evening, where he and his linemates, Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz, tallied four goals and eight points.

While he hasn't been flashy or putting up points the same way he did with the London Knights, Cowan has done all the little things right and has impressed everyone in the organization.

His play has put GM Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube in a difficult position when it comes to the future of one of their more experienced forwards.

The names of Nicholas Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf have been circulating in trade rumours all summer and as training camp draws to a close, it seems more likely that one of them will begin the season elsewhere.

Insiders Reveal Maple Leafs' Plan to Create Roster Space

Ahead of Thursday's pre-season game, Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston made an appearance on 'OverDrive' where they discussed the play of Cowan and how the Leafs will solve their logjam up front.

In doing so, Johnston and Dreger noted that a lack of assets to add to trades as 'sweeteners' and a lack of activity on the trade market will ultimately force the Leafs to decide which veteran will begin with the Marlies -- or elsewhere if claimed.

"The reality is, some kind of player is going on waivers for the Leafs. I think Kampf is the obvious one to being on the bubble," revealed Johnston. "If worse comes to worse and there is no other way to reduce the forward group by one, then you put someone on waivers and send them to the Marlies."

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To Johnston's point, it does appear as though Kampf is the odd man out at this time, given the deadline acquisition of Scott Laughton and his new-found chemistry with Steven Lorentz, as well as Jarnkrok's versatility have unfortunately pushed the 30-year-old to the bottom of the depth chart.

Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily

Veteran Leafs Forward Breaks Silence on Uncertain Future in Toronto

Maple Leafs Have Opportunity to Bring In a Goalie with NHL Experience For Free

Maple Leafs Reveal Who Has the Edge to Replace Joseph Woll While He's on Leave

POLL
SEPTEMBRE 26 \| 1124 ANSWERS Insider Reveals Maple Leafs' Plan to Solve Roster Issue Ahead of Regular Season Opener Has Easton Cowan done enough to begin the season with the Leafs?
Yes	751	66.8 %
No	155	13.8 %
It won't hurt to give him a few games	218	19.4 %
List of polls

Insider Reveals Maple Leafs' Plan to Solve Roster Issue Ahead of Regular Season Opener

Easton Cowan's impressive training camp has led TSN's Chris Johnston and Darren Dreger to believe the Leafs will solve their roster issue at the expense of a veteran.

Insiders Reveal Maple Leafs' Plan to Create Roster Space

Has Easton Cowan done enough to begin the season with the Leafs?