Prospect Info: 2023 1st Rd Selection - #28 OA (via BOS, WSH) - C, Easton Cowan [London Knights, OHL; [Height 5.11 -- Weight 185]

[Gallagbi]

So was Cowan the BPA on our board or not?

I mean if this guy reached for Cowan for the sole purpose of making sure someone else didn't get him, but passed over better players because of it, then you are just doing a really bad job.

And this is obviously not in the context of the decision to move up or down either. It was to take the guy at the pick they already had. Just say you had the guy as your BPA and stand by the decision.

Common sense says he was their BPA, its why he was picked

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

They drafted two D's in Liljegren and Sandin in the 1st round in back-to-back drafts...

Wes Clark was working in Florida those years.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Common sense says he was their BPA, its why he was picked

I may have misinterpreted what I heard in the interview. He was asked if he was the top guy on his board and he said he was in that range, but was not the top guy (aka BPA).

I suppose Wes was thinking of the entire draft, while the reporter was asking out of the guys who are left.

Although I mean come on Wes... Like do you genuinely think the reporter is asking you if you had him at the top of your board in the entire draft? "Yeah, I had him ranked above Michkov, Bedard, Fantilli, and Carlsson".

And considering I fully believe that there are instances where a team doesn't necessarily draft the top guy left on their board, the reporter was justified in asking if he was the top guy remaining. In which case he effectively said 'no', but he was in that range.

I guess either way, it is not really a good look and Clark has a lot to prove. First with Minten and now with Cowan. Because neither should have even been in the range of BPA, let alone their BPA, so either they are taking some really bold risks with their evaluation criteria, or they are not taking BPA. Compound that with the idea that they were genuinely afraid to lose him to another team and was not willing (although possibly not able as well) to move down is even more concerning because even if he was somehow BPA, he was not head and shoulders BPA.

 

[ktownhockey]

Speaks well for him.

It just hard to get excited about a guy who's NHL comparable is Alex Kerfoot.

I don't think that comp is accurate. I think he's got alot more natural JAM.

 

[Macallan18]

A troll account

 

[Leaf Fans]

A troll account

Maybe he doesn't know how to spell his own name.

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

Man Clark doesn't give much eh?

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

I may have misinterpreted what I heard in the interview. He was asked if he was the top guy on his board and he said he was in that range, but was not the top guy (aka BPA).

I suppose Wes was thinking of the entire draft, while the reporter was asking out of the guys who are left.

Although I mean come on Wes... Like do you genuinely think the reporter is asking you if you had him at the top of your board in the entire draft? "Yeah, I had him ranked above Michkov, Bedard, Fantilli, and Carlsson".

And considering I fully believe that there are instances where a team doesn't necessarily draft the top guy left on their board, the reporter was justified in asking if he was the top guy remaining. In which case he effectively said 'no', but he was in that range.

I guess either way, it is not really a good look and Clark has a lot to prove. First with Minten and now with Cowan. Because neither should have even been in the range of BPA, let alone their BPA, so either they are taking some really bold risks with their evaluation criteria, or they are not taking BPA. Compound that with the idea that they were genuinely afraid to lose him to another team and was not willing (although possibly not able as well) to move down is even more concerning because even if he was somehow BPA, he was not head and shoulders BPA.

There is a common theme when it came to picking both Cowan and Minten. Both were guys that they considered late risers who have untapped potential. Both guys were down the depth charts on their teams, that got better as the year went on and then went on big playoff runs. All while bringing all the intangibles we've been looking for on the big club to compliment our star players.

Hopefully Cowan can be that Oshie type of player for us. Minten, I'm not sure I'm seeing the top 6 upside yet but could be a valuable contributer in the future like a Dave Bolland if all goes well.

When I think of BPA, this isn't exactly what I had in mind either. I'm thinking guys that have already shown the talent and results. Guys who display the highest upside. Myself, I thought someone like Gulyayev at that spot. Picking at 28 is a crap shoot anyways and most of these kids are all similar tier of potential anyways. But that's why we have these scouts that get paid to identify talent and find gems. Look at some of the progression or breakouts we've seen from some of our previous draft picks. Knies has gone on to be one of the better prospects out there as a late 2nd round pick and coveted by every team. Robertson was a guy who was a late bloomer and the youngest player in the draft and he went on to have one of the best goal scoring seasons in the OHL. Niemela broke a scoring record for D men in Liiga etc.

I was underwhelmed by the pick like everyone else but who knows, maybe this kid ends up being a steal.

 

[Future]

I may have misinterpreted what I heard in the interview. He was asked if he was the top guy on his board and he said he was in that range, but was not the top guy (aka BPA).

I suppose Wes was thinking of the entire draft, while the reporter was asking out of the guys who are left.

Although I mean come on Wes... Like do you genuinely think the reporter is asking you if you had him at the top of your board in the entire draft? "Yeah, I had him ranked above Michkov, Bedard, Fantilli, and Carlsson".

And considering I fully believe that there are instances where a team doesn't necessarily draft the top guy left on their board, the reporter was justified in asking if he was the top guy remaining. In which case he effectively said 'no', but he was in that range.

I guess either way, it is not really a good look and Clark has a lot to prove. First with Minten and now with Cowan. Because neither should have even been in the range of BPA, let alone their BPA, so either they are taking some really bold risks with their evaluation criteria, or they are not taking BPA. Compound that with the idea that they were genuinely afraid to lose him to another team and was not willing (although possibly not able as well) to move down is even more concerning because even if he was somehow BPA, he was not head and shoulders BPA.

I don’t understand why you’re so critical. The draft literally just took place.

At worst, he looks like he’ll be a useful piece in the bottom 6 and an effective special teams player. But there are signs that he could be much more if his game continues on its current trajectory.

After watching him all year and seeing the exponential progression over the course of his rookie season in the OHL, they are obviously betting that growth will only continue.

The other guys we took are raw high ceiling swings for the range in which they were picked. Probably won’t work out, but I thought the same for Grebyonkin who had a stellar year.

 

[superdee]

I am a London Knights season ticket holder and also go to quite a few GOJHL games. @ 28 Cowboy is a steal for the Leafs. Shit I might even start cheering for them. Easton is a great kid and plays the game the way it should be played. He plays 200 foot game a leaves it on the ice every shift. Never takes a shift off or floats around. Maybe some of it will rub off on the rest of the Leafs when he gets there. Very few rookies get much ice time with Dale Hunter and company unless you earn it. London Knights lead the list in sending OHL players to the NHL and it is because of the Hunters developing and drafting players. They have had some kids leave because they wouldn’t play their system. Nobody picked the Knights to play for the Robertson Cup and a chance to play in Memorial Cup. If #1 goalie doesn’t get hurt they probably make it. Cowan would have turned a lot of heads there. This is a great pick for Toronto.

 

[the Mighty Oak]

I don't mind the pick. He sounds like he's the exact type of player the leaf's need

 

[BertCorbeau]

Kid seems like he'll be a fan favourite in no time

 

[Pholus]

My first thought was that this seems like a bit of a reach, but I do like his competitiveness. When I watched OHL playoff highlights to see Ty Voit, this guy always managed to stand out.

 

[WTFMAN99]

At 28th overall, if you found a Ryan Hartman or Dave Bolland that's nice.

 

[Bravid Nonahan]

He will put up a ton of points next year. Obviously him and Denver Barkey will be back with the Knights and will get the prime minutes. The Knights' top two forward point getters from last year were overagers and the next two in line are Cowan and Barkey. Stat watching will be fun.

I am also floored by how much of a...kid this guy still is. I know all the drafted kids are young but Cowan seems really young, like he could honestly pass as a kid in Grade 9 or 10. He has literally zero facial hair, seems like he's 15 years old. Once he becomes a man, he will become even better. If you have a little kid contributing the way he does, when he adds that man strength he will only get better.

 

[Stephen]

Stupid comment by me, but he kinda looks like Gary Leeman.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

Kid reminds me of Chandler Stephenson. If we get that when he hits the NHL I'll be very happy.

 

[Keon1963]

Common sense says he was their BPA, its why he was picked

Common sense has been very uncommon around here.

 

[Dayjobdave]

I really like that they took the kid they wanted instead of fanning out into more picks to play the averages.

And yeah, Konecny should have been a leaf….

 

[Its not your fault]

When you fire your GM. I would think he has a vast knowledge of whome you scout. Might even have the same interests can you play the drop down game? Next year won't matter as much. On the flip at least 2 GMs would have had a say on this as well.

 

[TCB]

 

[cupcrazyman2]

He reminds me of a Gilmour type player.Never talks a shift off.Very noticeable in the ohl west final London vs Sarnia series.

 

[Taylor Halls Teeth]

I really like that they took the kid they wanted instead of fanning out into more picks to play the averages.

And yeah, Konecny should have been a leaf….

I was actually thinking of Konecny with this pick.

 

[Taylor Halls Teeth]

I may have misinterpreted what I heard in the interview. He was asked if he was the top guy on his board and he said he was in that range, but was not the top guy (aka BPA).

I suppose Wes was thinking of the entire draft, while the reporter was asking out of the guys who are left.

Although I mean come on Wes... Like do you genuinely think the reporter is asking you if you had him at the top of your board in the entire draft? "Yeah, I had him ranked above Michkov, Bedard, Fantilli, and Carlsson".

And considering I fully believe that there are instances where a team doesn't necessarily draft the top guy left on their board, the reporter was justified in asking if he was the top guy remaining. In which case he effectively said 'no', but he was in that range.

I guess either way, it is not really a good look and Clark has a lot to prove. First with Minten and now with Cowan. Because neither should have even been in the range of BPA, let alone their BPA, so either they are taking some really bold risks with their evaluation criteria, or they are not taking BPA. Compound that with the idea that they were genuinely afraid to lose him to another team and was not willing (although possibly not able as well) to move down is even more concerning because even if he was somehow BPA, he was not head and shoulders BPA.

It was a weird response. Unless maybe he had a defenseman in mind and it was a positional decision but it makes no sense for him to be that frank. Whatever the case he wouldn't have reached more than a millimetre from the best player they had on their list. The move down seems obvious to us but not if they think they have a guy that was charging so hard that one more tournament would have made him untouchable.

 

[LDN]

I am a London Knights season ticket holder and also go to quite a few GOJHL games. @ 28 Cowboy is a steal for the Leafs. Shit I might even start cheering for them. Easton is a great kid and plays the game the way it should be played. He plays 200 foot game a leaves it on the ice every shift. Never takes a shift off or floats around. Maybe some of it will rub off on the rest of the Leafs when he gets there. Very few rookies get much ice time with Dale Hunter and company unless you earn it. London Knights lead the list in sending OHL players to the NHL and it is because of the Hunters developing and drafting players. They have had some kids leave because they wouldn’t play their system. Nobody picked the Knights to play for the Robertson Cup and a chance to play in Memorial Cup. If #1 goalie doesn’t get hurt they probably make it. Cowan would have turned a lot of heads there. This is a great pick for Toronto.

Cowan was likely our playoff MVP. He had an amazing playoffs!