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

[robertmac43]

Cowan was unreal in the playoffs for the knights. Killed us when he came to Kitchener. I think he can turn into something good but he would have likely been there tomorrow.....

 

[Dion TheFluff]

can fire Wes Clark into sun. Seems like really poor value for where he was taken

 

[Stand Witness]

100% for sure.

So that being said I did like Dubas' drafts for the most part so far, so I'm optimistic this kid might be a player for us.

Besides, we get to cheer for a local OHL kid to make it. Could be some fun.

Where does he project on London's roster next year?

I believe he will have a legit shot to be their top offensive player.

 

[Leaf Lander]

Like really do the keafs need another really small forward. Is no one awake working for the franchise

Other teams are drafting 6 for 2 or bigger players but the leafs like smurfs who can't take the rough play

 

[Stephen]

Should have traded down if this is who they had.. this seems similar to the Minten pick last year

The late season reviews on Minten haven't that flattering so maybe we shouldn't move down more than we need to.

 

[LeafGrief]

Happy to see them go early on a guy they believe in. Very happy to have a London Knight in the system, London C’s have high success rates for turning into NHL’ers. Can’t wait to see Cowan on Team Canada too!

 

[Brown Dog]

Liking a player is fine but trade down if he's ranked much lower.

Takes two to tango.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Just going to point out... I am not convinced this was an analytics pick either.

Much better analytics guys available. I think this is another scout pick that is really questionable.

Happy to see them go early on a guy they believe in. Very happy to have a London Knight in the system, London C’s have high success rates for turning into NHL’ers. Can’t wait to see Cowan on Team Canada too!

He is a LW. Not going to be a C.

 

[Rob Brown]

 

[trellaine201]

Why not pick the best player available when your this far down the list.

 

[Stephen]

Like really do the keafs need another really small forward. Is no one awake working for the franchise

Other teams are drafting 6 for 2 or bigger players but the lrafs like smurfs who can't take the rough play

I don't love the pick... I don't mind that much... but pretty sure I don't conceive of a prospect pipeline the same way a Wes Clark does.

 

[baton elevated]

Sure there w

Mid 50s prospect. you’re telling me there was no option to trade back for 2 seconds?

Not a fan of this pick at 28 , but prove me wrong team

Sure there were opportunities to move back. Some teams have 12 plus picks and have had them for years now. You can't develop and sign this many picks for 3-4 years. They will be traded or lost. This makes no sense that Arizona, Mtl and a couple of others has so many picks year after year.

 

[robertmac43]

One thing that seems strange to me is that Cowan goes before Barkey. From a London perspective Barkey was the better player.

The more i think about this one the more I wish we just went for Cristall

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Like really do the keafs need another really small forward. Is no one awake working for the franchise

Other teams are drafting 6 for 2 or bigger players but the leafs like smurfs who can't take the rough play

Good to see you brother

 

[BigBlu]

Such a stupid pick.

 

[AuraSphere]

can fire Wes Clark into sun. Seems like really poor value for where he was taken

Seems like this was a dave morrison pick - i don't understand how he's still employed

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Like really do the keafs need another really small forward. Is no one awake working for the franchise

Other teams are drafting 6 for 2 or bigger players but the leafs like smurfs who can't take the rough play

Have you watched this player at all? He's engaged physically all over the ice.

 

[TheRumble]

Dubas traded Sandin and we got back

3 months of Gustafsson

This guy.

Just a failure of asset management from top to bottom here.

 

[Leafidelity]

This is the guy they'd rather have than Sandin

 

[BigBlu]

I have “1st round intelligence@. LOL!

 

[ITM]

100% for sure.

So that being said I did like Dubas' drafts for the most part so far, so I'm optimistic this kid might be a player for us.

Besides, we get to cheer for a local OHL kid to make it. Could be some fun.

Where does he project on London's roster next year?

Consensus of informed comments here seems to indicate promise and a position leading the club.

Great organization, have no doubt there’s a wink and a touch on the nose with intel on this kid, but it’s like we constantly invert right timing: We drop down when we shouldn’t, and when we should, we don’t!

Lol - “The Leafs”.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Was anyone really surprised that they galaxy brained the hell out this pick?

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I've put eyeballs on him. Not a fan of the pick if for no other reason than I think we could have moved down into the mid 30s and grabbed him. I didn't peg him as a high draft pick, but he did stick out. If he's 5'11 he may have grown a little since I saw him earlier in the season last year. Good motor and drive to the net. Took it up another notch in the second half and playoffs. Not super sold on him as a 1st rounder but London's track record gets their players drafted higher than one might think at first glance. Will get to see him lots next year and form a better opinion.

It is funny that he's the kind of pick people would have expected from Dubas. Whomp Whomp.

 

[Brown Dog]

I know nothing about these prospects.

First reaction is that going "off the board" is annoying.

Really like the reports of the kind of player this guy is--high motor, competetive, raises game in playoffs.

We keep saying we want guys who hate losing more than they love winning. Sounds like Cowan could be that type.

 

[Mess]

NHL Potential

When you look at how Cowan plays hockey, you see someone that easily projects to the NHL. He has a perfect combination of skills including strong skating, playmaking ability, defensive responsibility, and drive that are needed to take those next steps into the league. While he definitely needs time to develop his body physically, this is already a solid base to build upon.

Strengths

• Strong two-way skater
• Great defensive instincts
• Non-stop motor
• Sees the ice at an elite level

If things go well, I could see Cowan acting as a second or third-line centerman in the NHL, who kills penalties, takes on time on the powerplay, and acts as a general energy forward to help propel his team forward. There are plenty of examples of these types of players in the league right now, so the path is there for him to follow in the coming years.

"There was a transformation in Cowan’s game through the season from a hard working, tenacious and secondary player to a player that not only drove his line, but his team. It was most evident when he led his team to a Western Conference Championship… Cowan is a terrific skater with a great separation gear that allows him to challenge defenders one-on-one. When chasing dump-ins, he regularly beats defenders to those pucks. It helps that he has a non-stop work ethic as well".