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Leafs Analyst Shares on What is Most Likely to Actually Happen with Easton Cowan
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro - Imagn Images
Prominent Maple Leafs analyst James Mirtle shares some insight on how he believes Easton Cowan's initial run with the Maple Leafs should play out.
With pre-season games coming to a close, the next important date on the NHL calendar is this coming Monday, when NHL teams are required to submit their rosters for the start of the regular season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs can go about the 23-man roster in a variety of ways but they currently have a surplus at the forward position, and at some point, something has to give.
Easton Cowan entered training camp with a lot to gain but also a lot to lose. As talented as he is, his spot on the team wasn't a given, but he delivered with a solid showing, so much so that he feels like a lock to make the cut on Monday.
He's been playing on the fourth line with the now injured Scott Laughton and veteran Steven Lorentz but that doesn't mean they'll be sheltering his offensive capabilities. James Mirtle of The Athletic believes head coach Craig Berube wants him on the team and that the Leafs see him as a viable source of offense in lieu of Mitch Marner's departure.
I think Berube wants him on the team. They want to get some offense down the lineup and they feel that is going to be one of the ways that they replace losing Marner.
JD Bunkis isn't entirely convinced that Cowan is quite ready to make his mark at the NHL-level, but Mirtle did make some great points as to why there's very little risk involved in giving the rookie the opportunity, at least to start the season.
He can play 9 games without burning his entry-level contract, he doesn't require waivers, get a look at him in the first 5-7 games, play him on the power play too, and if it looks like he fits in then maybe there is a world where he does stay.
It seems like Cowan is going to be given plenty of opportunities to showcase his value and worth. He's seemingly already edged out players like Calle Jarnkrok and Nicholas Robertson in training camp, which bodes well for his prospects heading into 2025-26 season.
Berube wanting him on the team is also a great stamp of approval for the 20-year-old, and if he can provide secondary or tertiary scoring to start the year, then the Leafs will be in business.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 4 | 1144 ANSWERS Leafs Analyst Shares on What is Most Likely to Actually Happen with Easton Cowan How many points does Easton Cowan collect in his rookie season? | ||
| 30-40 | 747 | 65.3 % |
| 41-50 | 290 | 25.3 % |
| 51-60 | 71 | 6.2 % |
| 60 or more | 36 | 3.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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