Recent News Regarding Maple Leafs Top Prospect Bodes Well for the Organization
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have struck gold at the end of the first round in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, as Easton Cowan reaches top-10 prospect ranking status.
The Maple Leafs may not have the best prospect pool in the NHL, but according to McKeen's Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, they do happen to have a top-10 NHL affiliated prospect from the OHL in the pipeline, and only 9 other teams can boast that.
After a bit of a dicey season and World Junior Championship tournament, Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan had a stellar postseason, leading the London Knights to a second consecutive OHL championship, and to a 2024-25 Memorial Cup win, and broke into the top-10 on Otten's list, coming it at number 10. He also earned Playoff MVP honours to cap off a sensational run with the Knights in his final season of OHL eligibility.
Otten gave a quick breakdown of what he saw from Cowan over this last season, but also pointed out that Cowan will have to shed some bad habits if he hopes to find success at the NHL level.
"I'll admit that some bad habits crept into his game this year and he's going to have to learn to simplify things to find success at the NHL level. However, he has all the tools to be a quality middle six fixture for Toronto for the next decade; speed, tenacity, scoring ability. I think he'll need time at the AHL level this year, even if it's a partial season."
While not regarded nearly as highly as Cowan, the Maple Leafs also happen to have another prospect listed in the top-25 on Otten's list. The Leafs' 2024 first-round pick, Ben Danford, was listed at #23 on Otten's rankings.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 19 | 1403 ANSWERS Recent News Regarding Maple Leafs Top Prospect Bodes Well for the Organization Do you think Easton Cowan is capable of playing in the Leafs' top-6 straight away this season? | ||
| Yes | 793 | 56.5 % |
| No | 610 | 43.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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