Prospect Info: 2023 1st Rd Selection - #28 OA (via BOS, WSH) - C, Easton Cowan [London Knights, OHL; [Height 5.11 -- Weight 185]
- Thread starter uncleben
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But it wasn’t a home run swing. Cowen was actually a safe pick.… if you’re looking for bottom 6 players.
Gulyayev or Nadeau would’ve been home run swings.
The Podium
Registered User
I haven’t followed this draft closely, so I’m not going to pretend I know what I’m talking about.
I’m also not one to overreact based on publicly available rankings.
Cowan seems to check all the boxes for me though, late riser playoff performing hard working good skating two-way forward with offensive tools, good attitude, good work ethic and farm strength. If he was 1-2” taller, or didn’t start slow seems like he’d have been a mid-late 1st.
Seems like a good gamble to me, albeit would’ve been nice to add a pick by trading back. Although it seems like Tre tried.
People who wanted Dubas gone, I think the reality is going to set in soon for some that maybe it wasn’t the best idea to get what you wished for.
What I do know is he was one of the 20 guys the Leafs hosted for an extra private skate after the combine. Molendyk who went to Nashville and triggered Tre to work the phones hard was also there. Seems like that was their BPA.
I’m also not one to overreact based on publicly available rankings.
Cowan seems to check all the boxes for me though, late riser playoff performing hard working good skating two-way forward with offensive tools, good attitude, good work ethic and farm strength. If he was 1-2” taller, or didn’t start slow seems like he’d have been a mid-late 1st.
Seems like a good gamble to me, albeit would’ve been nice to add a pick by trading back. Although it seems like Tre tried.
People who wanted Dubas gone, I think the reality is going to set in soon for some that maybe it wasn’t the best idea to get what you wished for.
What I do know is he was one of the 20 guys the Leafs hosted for an extra private skate after the combine. Molendyk who went to Nashville and triggered Tre to work the phones hard was also there. Seems like that was their BPA.
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
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Disagree, if he continues his upward trajectory that started mid way through last season, you could have a very hard to find combination of skills and traits here. Anytime you draft a kid who had a short but strong rise just before the draft, I think it's a bit of a homerun swing.
Fogelhund
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- Sep 15, 2007
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Do you understand what the word consensus means?
Easton Cowan - Stats, Contract, Salary & More
Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Easton Cowan, 2005-05-20 Strathroy, ON, CAN Canada. Most recently in the OHL with London Knights. Complete player biography and stats.
www.eliteprospects.com
They list all of the major rankings for Cowan. Now think about that for a second.
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
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Definitely some survivorship bias, but it seems like betting on a London area hardworking two-way type that the community gets bullish on and is good enough to be a top 60 pick is a pretty good idea. I remember O'Rielly and Horvat being absolute favourites. Any one that I'm forgetting, and any misses you can think of?
Edit -
Elgin Middlesex- Jenner, Konecny, Crouse
Jr Knights - Kadri, McCann, Couture
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I want one player. Leafs can only pick one player at #28 who is your shot?
I think you are dramatically underselling him, while at the same time overselling the upside for these other players. If guys like Michael Bunting can hit 63 with no PP1 time, or Hyman hitting 83 this year. You are speaking in certainties which anyone who has any experience watching prospects would know aren't realistic. Kids constantly outperform their perceived ceilings and dramatically under achieve their floors, that people on this site constantly state with certainty. Look at someone like Brad Marchand.
I'm not saying that Cowan is going to take the NHL with storm, but you are likely talking with certainty about players you don't know much about. London fans loved the kid, scouts raved about his work ethic and desire to get better, etc.
In the late 20's you are rarely talking about getting guys with 80 point potential, especially with a high probability of doing it.
I think he means not only does Shanahan make the calls for Treliving, apparently Wes Clark makes his decisions too.
Apparently to some, Treliving was just there to get in his 10,000 steps.
You also have a small sample size. Many draft busts have been drafted too high because of one great game, playoff series or tournament.
Sample size matters.
Luca Pinelli and Nick Lardis had better playoffs than Cowen and Lardis is a better skater.
The Podium
Registered User
Combination of things from the day. Considering Treliving didn’t have any input on the draft this likely was still a Dubas pick. But the trade down was the Dubas special, and the Kampf deal isn’t likely something he does.
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
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For my, once Ritchie, Molendyk and Musty were gone, I didn't really care as much who we took. Edstrom seemed really interesting so I guess I will say him.
Fogelhund
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No question, this is a reach. In 2-4 years, we will find out if the reach was worth it, and if we get a NHL player out of this or not. I guess we cheer for the kid, and hope for the best from him, he’s one of our guys now.
I was hoping for one of Musty, Stramel, Sale. But, these guys all got picked before us. I’m surprised Cristall is still on the board.
I was hoping for one of Musty, Stramel, Sale. But, these guys all got picked before us. I’m surprised Cristall is still on the board.
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
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So is that what we are going to do for the next 3 years? Everything we don't like is going to be followed by "Dubas wouldn't have done that".
Exgirlfriend syndrome is real in some of y'all.
justashadowof
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Maybe one of them could be an NHL center but I suspect both have games that project them to be NHL wingers.
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
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Hey, at least we didn't pass up on Michkov, Leonard, Cooley, etc. Would suck to be a team that was bad for 2 years then did that
Macallan18
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- Aug 10, 2015
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One more box. Late birthday, kid is young.
Bunting and Hyman benefitted tremendously from linemates. On an average team they don’t score at that pace.
Marchand is an elite skater.
Every CHL team has a favourite player the fans love. That doesn’t mean they’re all first round picks.
thusk
Registered User
Or team came back with trade offer they already did past week for actual player including the 1st pick and treliving decline to trade his pick. Doesn't mean it was to trade back neccessairly
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
- Apr 5, 2022
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If I had to take a wild guess right now, I could see Minten as a very good top 6 complimentary winger one day. Physical, likes to shoot, would be a great wingman for our core group.
Cowan will make it to the show as a C, just not sure if he's a Point, a Pageau, or a Kampf.
One thing with playing for Dale Hunter he will be playing in every situation which is rare fir a young player.
He will be ready for the NHL game
He will be ready for the NHL game
The Podium
Registered User
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
- Apr 5, 2022
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- 8,322
Not a fan of the pick, eh?
Lots of good posts to bookmark and look on from both sides of this thread. I am cautiously optimistic, but only because he won me over this past season. If it was a player with the same skillset and stats in a league I don't watch, I would probably feel pretty dissapointed too.
Konecny was loved off the top of my head. Lawson Crouse too. Not stars but effective players. I'm sure there are tons of misses along the way. But, those are all farm kids or from farming areas.
To be honest, I'm more optimistic about the Knight's development and his opportunities to expand his role next year.
Okay, but who is this one star we passed on? One name. I don't want a shotgun approach. We only pick one player. Call your shot if you are so confident we passed on a potential 80 point player who has your definition of top-line ability.
I think the odds of getting a play-driving first liner is way lower than you think. And, 3rd wheels who play games that compliment star players are of more value than you are giving them. It's not about collecting the most possible individually talented guys and hoping it works out. We saw that when we tried Kapanen on top lines. He may drag up a 3rd line but his game drags down 1st and 2nd line guys. Which is why hard working guys who can forecheck, with good IQ and some skill tend to work out well in that role.
Brock
Registered User
Not sure if my content has been posted yet in this thread, but thought that I'd share my thoughts.
I actually really like this pick. I was told that he was going to go high and that definitely came to fruition. If the Leafs liked Cowan, they had to take him here because there were a few teams really high on him.
One thing that I always look for in draft eligible players is strong finishes to the season. It's a precursor to positive devlopment in future years. From start to finish, Cowan was one of the most improved players in the entire OHL. He started the year as strictly a complimentary, high energy guy, with Denver Barkey really driving play on that line. But as the year went on, Cowan developed confidence in his playmaking and play creaton ability, taking over shifts with the puck. By the time the playoffs rolled around, he was London's best player and the production shows that. He was now the primary play driver, with Barkey kind of fading to that complimentary role. Obviously Ryan Winterton helped that line too with his strength on the puck and ability to keep plays alive down low. But my point remains.
Maybe Cowan is no more than a solid third line piece. But...there's also a significant chance that his game continues to develop and he can become a very useful and versatile middle six piece and fan favourite.
Here's a bit more info on him for you:
ohlprospects.blogspot.com
ohlprospects.blogspot.com
I actually really like this pick. I was told that he was going to go high and that definitely came to fruition. If the Leafs liked Cowan, they had to take him here because there were a few teams really high on him.
One thing that I always look for in draft eligible players is strong finishes to the season. It's a precursor to positive devlopment in future years. From start to finish, Cowan was one of the most improved players in the entire OHL. He started the year as strictly a complimentary, high energy guy, with Denver Barkey really driving play on that line. But as the year went on, Cowan developed confidence in his playmaking and play creaton ability, taking over shifts with the puck. By the time the playoffs rolled around, he was London's best player and the production shows that. He was now the primary play driver, with Barkey kind of fading to that complimentary role. Obviously Ryan Winterton helped that line too with his strength on the puck and ability to keep plays alive down low. But my point remains.
Maybe Cowan is no more than a solid third line piece. But...there's also a significant chance that his game continues to develop and he can become a very useful and versatile middle six piece and fan favourite.
Here's a bit more info on him for you:
Final Media/Scout Top 10 for 2023
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My Final Top 50 OHL Players for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft - Part 2: 30-11
Here's part two of my rankings release: the players ranked from 30 to 11. 11. Andrew Gibson - Defense - Soo Greyhounds I would be absolutel...
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