If I were to handicap things right now, Easton Cowan’s chances of cracking the Maple Leafs roster out of training camp seem very slim.
Of course, one impressive outing can help change the narrative around that, but with just four preseason games remaining on Toronto’s slate, it really feels like the 2023 first rounder is running out of time.
In the grand scheme of things, if the Leafs do elect to send the gritty forward back to the London Knights for another season of Junior hockey, it shouldn’t be looked at as a disappointment.
Ultimately, whether anyone wants to admit it or not here, the numbers game isn’t in the 19-year-old’s favour either. From the opening day of camp, it’s really felt like Cowan’s only chance of making the team was severely outplaying his competition around him. By no fault of his own, he’s been unable to do that thus far. Having said that, it’s not like he’s performed badly or anything, he just hasn’t stood out the way say a Fraser Minten did last fall.
And that’s fine.
Any way you slice it, the NHL is a tough league to crack. At the end of the day, patience is a virtue. Simply put, there’s no official book on developing prospects in the NHL world. Every case is different. Having said that, Cowan’s the prime example of someone who’s probably too good for the CHL. Down the road, I would love to see a new rule adopted that would allow a 19-year-old to play in the American Hockey League. Currently, that’s probably where he belongs, but unfortunately, the only two options are either rostering him on the big club or sending him back to the London Knights. Additionally, they could also give him a few regular season games before deciding, but as is the case most seasons, the Leafs will likely need to make a few moves in order to be cap compliant for opening night. Suffice it is to say, Brandon Pridham will be extremely busy over the next few weeks.
Personally, I think Craig Berube’s tipped his hand accordingly, too. Through two preseason outings, Cowan’s been mostly deployed in a bottom-six role. He hasn’t really been given a shot with the big dogs —or roster shoo-ins for that matter. They’ve been very delicate with him, and at the end of the day, that’s probably the right approach.
