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Leafs' Easton Cowan Winning Everyone Over With Mature Response to Tough Question
Photo credit: David Kirouac Imagn Images
Easton Cowan may be very close to making the Maple Leafs' opening night roster and his mature response to a tough question is winning everyone over in Toronto.
Leafs head coach Craig Berube has been impressed with 2023 first-round pick Easton Cowan through training camp so far, but has stopped short of saying he has made the team to avoid any potential conflicts with others vying for a spot.
Many believe that Cowan is the front-runner to secure the final roster spot in Toronto, especially after he, Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz combined for 8 points in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Canadiens.
Given that the 20-year-old Memorial Cup MVP skated with them on Saturday and did not play in Saturday's pre-season game, it would appear he has edged out Nick Robertson, David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok.
Easton Cowan Leaning on London Knights Experience to Earn Role
On Friday's 'Leafs Morning Take', former NHL head coach Bruce Boudreau was asked what he would do with Cowan to begin the year, and surprisingly, Boudreau said he would start him in the AHL, but for good reason.
»I would want him playing full minutes, being in important positions with the Marlies."
In speaking with reporters on Saturday, Cowan stated that he was hopeful he would begin the season with the Leafs and shared he has no issues beginning on the fourth line to start.
"I started in the bottom six in London, too, and ended up working my way into the top six. So it's something you can do here as well. Start in the bottom six, then you can always work your way up, so I think whether I'm in the bottom six or top six, I can bring something to the table, whether that's finishing checks, power play, penalty kill -- I feel like I'm a good overall player and can play anywhere in the lineup."
The 20-year-old has impressed everyone at camp thus far, and as long as he continues to do the little things Berube has asked of him, there is no reason he shouldn't be a fixture on what could be a very dominant fourth line for the Leafs this season.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 28 | 1967 ANSWERS Leafs' Easton Cowan Winning Everyone Over With Mature Response to Tough Question Would you prefer Cowan start the season in the NHL or AHL? | ||
| Should be with the Leafs | 1258 | 64 % |
| Marlies for more minutes | 577 | 29.3 % |
| Doesn't matter | 132 | 6.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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