It’s the start of World Junior season. Next week is the Selection Camp for Hockey Canada to identify their roster for the upcoming post-Christmas tournament, and for the first time in a long time, there are two Maple Leafs prospects being considered for the team.
Team Canada has released their roster for the 2024 World Juniors. 🇨🇦
Thoughts on the squad? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/3ICx5LbU4C
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 5, 2023
Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan are both in consideration for forward spots on Team Canada. Given that there are 16 players on the list, there is a good chance for both players to make the final cut, save for any current NHLer that may be loaned out for the tournament, but I’m going make a bold prediction that neither Connor Bedard nor Adam Fantelli are going to be walking through that locker room door.
On the business/marketing side of things, there is obviously a huge benefit for the IIHF, Hockey Canada, and TSN to have Leafs prospects involved. There is better potential for jersey sales and certainly increased viewership for a product that is going to be relying on morning/early afternoon viewership.
On the actual performance basis, both Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan have numbers that warrant their consideration as well. Minten, after his four game trial with the Leafs, has put up 13 points in 11 games since his return to the WHL. While these are not ridiculous numbers, it is worth noting that Minten was on a rebuilding Kamloops team before recently being dealt to Saskatoon. Both of which could have an impact on his numbers.
Easton Cowan on the other hand, does have the ridiculous junior numbers you’d expect to see. He has 34 points in 21 games this year for London, including 10 goals. He is on pace for 107 points in 63 games.
The thing with both Minten and Cowan is that they have other attributes that make them assets to Hockey Canada. For one, both are centres that could potentially line up on the wing if needed. Carrying extra centres certainly has some appeal. Secondly, they are familiar with each other and could form two thirds of a pretty solid 3rd or 4th line. Finally, and this is playing off that 3rd/4th line thing, is that Cowan with his agitating ways and Minten as a physical two-way centre both make sense in a bottom six capacity for Team Canada, and Hockey Canada loves building their team around roles.
The camp will open up on December 10th and run until December 13th in Oakville. There will be two games against USports All-Stars. The World Junior tournament will begin in Sweden on Boxing Day with Canada’s first match being against Finland.
