All eyes will be on Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten at training camp because of a dilemma regarding where they should be playing next season.
After all, both impressed during training camp last year which helped spark a debate over whether or not the Leafs should allow the two of them to stick with the NHL team long-term. While there is reports that the Leafs could be looking to shore up their depth up front, the moves have yet to be materialized which leaves open the possibility that they are leaving the door open for the two youngsters.
Both saw strides in their development with Cowan showcasing his dominance with the London Knights while Minten continued on his trajectory into being a solid defensive centre. And both have been attached at the hip at any Leafs event that they have been invited to as was evident during this summer’s development camp.
Cowan and Minten working together on edgework with the puck. pic.twitter.com/Gr4OCEWzFV
— Mat Sheridan (@mat_sheridan8) July 4, 2024
This has the makings of a dynamic duo of the future and one that could provide immense value for the Leafs down the line. But could it be realized as soon as this forthcoming season?
There is no pressure on the Leafs to have to burn that first year off their respective ELCs. That is especially true in Cowan’s case as his deal is slide-eligible for another season. With how critical this upcoming campaign is going to be for them, the last thing they would want to do is to prematurely burn a year off when both players show they are not yet ready for the big time on a long-term basis.
It cannot be overstated the difficulty in making the jump from juniors to the NHL and there is a reason why so few can do so within months of getting selected. Players usually need a season or two to get some development in so they can work on maximizing their strengths and improving their weaknesses, ensuring they don’t have to experience as many growing pains as they would if they were thrust in immediately.
Even if these players can knock upper management’s socks off at training camp, that may not be enough to earn a spot as was evident last year. Despite both having standout perfumes in September, Cowan was sent back to the OHL while Minten got a four-game trial run before he was assigned to the WHL. It may have been disappointing for the fans hoping to see Cowan and Minten get a longer chance to prove themselves, but it worked out for the best as where both went on to have successful seasons with their respective teams and even got to represent Team Canada at the World Juniors.
The same situation will likely be playing itself out this fall because Treliving has made it clear that he doesn’t want to hand Cowan and Minten a spot on the team right away. He wants them to prove they can handle playing at the highest level instead of just gifting them a place in the lineup and hoping for the best.
Much like the idea that they don’t stick to the Leafs reoccurring happens this year, so too could the possibility that Cowan and Minten make a strong showing to force Treliving and company into making a tough decision. But this time around, the team could benefit from the addition of the two rookies to bring some jolt to their lineup in a vital season.
There are question marks surrounding the makeup of the bottom-six and the concerns of whether they will have enough offence when it matters have not gone away. Too many playoff runs in recent years ended prematurely because the Leafs’ supposed area strength let them down in the clutch, but a factor into why that is the case is the influx of defensively-minded players instead of a healthy balance of scoring and defending. Roster construction and salary cap management aside, Toronto has no choice but to make do with the limited space they have available to fill the holes and that has not been enough to stop the bleeding in years past.
Unlike last fall when there was some unknown regarding Cowan and Minten, this time both players are further along in their development and have made strides into becoming key contributors. The former has shown he can be a difference-maker and a sneaky good pest while the latter has found his niche of being a two-way player who can be relied on to shut down the opposition. With both players seemingly bringing out the best in each other when sharing a line, it is not a stretch to say that both could make a positive impact on the Leafs if allowed to do so.
Until that mystery bottom-six forward is acquired this summer, the door remains open enough that allow Cowan and Minten a chance to bust it down. And with the question marks surrounding the bottom six at this time, the opportunity is there for the taking if they wish to attain it.
All of which is to say that the only way for Cowan and Minten to factor into the Leafs plans is for them to play their way into it.
For Minten, he is eligible to play for the Marlies this upcoming season and it’s likely he starts there before joining the Leafs later on. It is exactly what the Stars did with Logan Stankoven a year ago which paid off dividends because they allowed him to dominate for the first bit of the campaign and then rewarded him with a callup in the second half. Because Dallas exercised patience, they got immediate production out of him when Stankghoven arrived and he ended up finishing sixth in playoff scoring for them. That is not to say the same thing will happen to Minten, but it demonstrates the benefits of taking time to allow a youngster a chance to hone their craft in the AHL first.
As for Cowan, his case is a lot trickier because the option is not available this year for him to go play for the Marlies: it is either he sticks with the Leafs or reports back to the OHL. He certainly has the confidence and his offensive talents are undeniable, but the way to win over Craig Berube is by showing his defensive proficiency and play away from the puck is at an NHL-ready level. There is a case to be made that Cowan can get the nine games to start the season so the Leafs get more time to assess how he does before determining whether or not to burn the first year. That will only be possible though if he once again is one of the standouts at training camp so it will be up to him to force his way into the picture.
While there is a case to be made that both can make the Leafs roster and make an immediate impact, at the time of writing, that likely won’t happen for at least another year. Both may be incredible at camp and during the preseason but don’t pencil them into the lineup just yet.
