Young Forward Could Play Spoiler to Easton Cowan's Hopes of Making the Maple Leafs out of Camp

After a second consecutive dominant OHL playoffs performance, all eyes are on 2023 1st-round pick Easton Cowan and whether or not he'll make the Maple Leafs' opening night roster.

Cowan not only captured back-to-back OHL championships with the London Knights in 2023-24 and 2024-25, but the kid from Mount Brydges, Ontario also helped the Knights win the Memorial Cup this season, just one year after coming just shy of that goal. Cowan was named MVP in this year's playoffs as well.

However, while Cowan believes it will be a different situation this season after being cut during last year's training camp, another young Leafs forward also has designs on making the opening night roster -- and he happens to have pro experience under his belt.

NCAA standout Jacob Quillan not only enjoyed a successful 2024-25 campain in his first full year as a professional, he also scored 18 goals along the way and turned the heads of many in the organization for his poise, attention to detail and strong two-way play -- things that the Maple Leafs value highly.

While Cowan likely still has the inside track to a roster spot, Quillan has the luxury of already having made his NHL debut last season. That seems important here, as does the fact that he plays a premium position as a natural centre, which are always valuable in the NHL.

The one thing that may give Cowan some extra hope here is that Mitch Marner leaving left a hole on the wing and a lot of offense to make up for. Cowan is the much more offensively gifted option here.

Another issue befalling Quillan is that with the addition of Nicolas Roy, the Leafs now have Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Nicolas Roy, Max Domi, Scott Laughton, Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf who are equipped to play down the middle -- though the last two are admittedly likely to be traded.

If Cowan wants to make the team this season, he'll have to both prove that he can produce and also prove that he won't be a defensive liability.

Quillan certainly has the edge in pro experience and two-way play, but Cowan does seem to have that X-factor and offensive pop that Quillan may not. It should make for an interesting battle in camp.