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Leafs May Have Found Unlikely Marner Replacement: Berube Weighs In on Easton Cowan's First Two NHL Games
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton | Imagn Images
Craig Berube offers a revealing update on Easton Cowan's progress through his first two NHL games with the Maple Leafs and what it means for the team going forward.
Easton Cowan's NHL debut on Monday received high praise from his linemates, Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews.
Despite the loss on Monday, Cowan was given a second opportunity to play on the Leafs' top line against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday evening, where he looked more comfortable than the day before.
Easton Cowan Dazzles, Collects First NHL Point
It wasn't an easy night for the former London Knights star, as he was on the receiving end of a dangerous hit into the post, but he didn't let it phase him.
He went on to showcase his playmaking abilities on Auston Matthews' first goal of the game, making a nifty pass to a streaking Matthews, in turn creating a two-on-one with Matthew Knies, in which the pair were able to convert.
Craig Berube Left Impressed by Easton Cowan's Work Ethic
Cowan was awarded the player of the game belt by his teammates for collecting his first NHL point, but it was the comments by Leafs' bench boss Craig Berube following the game that caught the eye of many and hinted that the 20-year-old could see an extended run on the top line.
"I think he really supports the puck with those guys and makes a lot of little plays that maybe go unnoticed to a lot of people, but I notice it. He is a dog on a bone out there. He hounds everything, gets pucks back, and strips people. He's played well. He played well again tonight. On back-to-back nights, I wasn't sure, but I thought he had another good night. It was good to see. It seems like that line is forming chemistry with them. He is a worker - a worker with skill."
Berube's comments come just a week after he suggested that the Leafs' rookie maybe wasn't quite ready for a top-six role.
Clearly, Cowan isn't going to take no for an answer and appears to have earned a lengthy look with Matthews and Knies, which should continue on Thursday when the Leafs host the New York Rangers.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 15 | 821 ANSWERS Leafs May Have Found Unlikely Marner Replacement: Berube Weighs In on Easton Cowan's First Two NHL Games How would you rate Easton Cowan's performance through his first two games? | ||
| A | 233 | 28.4 % |
| B | 480 | 58.5 % |
| C | 96 | 11.7 % |
| D or lower | 12 | 1.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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