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

[Stephen]

I don't understand why people say Cowan has no chance to make the team. If he earns it, give him the opportunity.

Ryan O'Rielly made the team as an 18 year old as a second round pick - I don't think that hurt his career.

Freshly drafted first rounders always impress this time of year and the question of promotion vs development is always bandied about.

Good organizations recognize September hockey is not the same as November hockey and if you’re choosing between rolling the dice seeing if he can make an impact or letting kids go back to dominate a junior season, maybe go to the WJC, this is usually preferable to a premature promotion.

 

[ACC1224]

Freshly drafted first rounders always impress this time of year and the question of promotion vs development is always bandied about.

Good organizations recognize September hockey is not the same as November hockey and if you’re choosing between rolling the dice seeing if he can make an impact or letting kids go back to dominate a junior season, maybe go to the WJC, this is usually preferable to a premature promotion.

Yep, kid has looked great no doubt but 1/2 speed pre-season is impacting that a touch.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Trading Jarnkrok or Lafferty+Timmins aren't scenarios that are being discussed just because of Cowan. This has been seen as a likelihood for a while, for the main purpose of avoiding running 12/6 or 11/7 with zero spares on the roster.

But it is short sighted. If they wanted that they would have signed less players. The chance someone on the roster is hurt before game 1 is high, and if not by game 1 by game 10 almost 100% chance someone is on LTIR. Space will open up naturally. This is why depth is important.

 

[supermann_98]

Nothing is tempered around here. Look where the thread started (for some) and look where we are now.

True but the post I responded to said he should go down and score 150 points and be MVP.

150 points hasn’t been touched since 2002-03 when Cory Locke had 151.

Patrick Kane was the last guy to even eclipse 140 points. I’ll be very happy if he gets 90+ points and an invite to the Canadian junior team camp, I’ll be ecstatic if he makes that team

 

[HockeyVirus]

Freshly drafted first rounders always impress this time of year and the question of promotion vs development is always bandied about.

Good organizations recognize September hockey is not the same as November hockey and if you’re choosing between rolling the dice seeing if he can make an impact or letting kids go back to dominate a junior season, maybe go to the WJC, this is usually preferable to a premature promotion.

And this is the other part of it. Is he good enough to play game 1? Probably. Is he, at 18 years old ready mentally and physically to play 82 games in the NHL + a post season? I highly doubt that. It is a grind in every sense and a big talking point about guys making the jump and why so many young players fall off in the 2nd half of seasons. They need to learn where they need to be to do it. Knies worked all summer to be in shape enough for 82 game grind.

Some people are just really in love with the shiny new toy at the moment and missing the bigger picture.

True but the post I responded to said he should go down and score 150 points and be MVP.

150 points hasn’t been touched since 2002-03 when Cory Locke had 151.

Patrick Kane was the last guy to even eclipse 140 points. I’ll be very happy if he gets 90+ points and an invite to the Canadian junior team camp, I’ll be ecstatic if he makes that team

I should have said 120 points. My point still stands though

 

[Razz]

You can come up with many scenarios to give the kid 9 games but the likelihood of that occurring is very low, virtually non existent.

I'd guess it would have to be the result of injury, which fortunately for Cowan is common in pre-season.

 

[justashadowof]

I remember Malgin was the talk of last September. I remember Kozun, Timashov, Arcobello and Kostka. I also remember Rasmus Sandin looking like a defense stud as Babcock attempted to break him with 30 minutes of ice time. I had come to the sound conclusion that pre-season hockey is largely meaningless. Now you gone and done it again. This thread is making me want to see Cowan in the next pre-season game.

 

[Mess]

He isn't making the opening night roster and I am willing to bet on that. His best path is to dominate the OHL score 150 points, have a MVP playoff and come to camp next year trying to earn a job.

FYI

This is the guy the Leafs drafted.

This is the player you're describing in your post.

Perhaps you might need to adjust your expectations slightly.

 

[Sypher04]

And this is the other part of it. Is he good enough to play game 1? Probably. Is he, at 18 years old ready mentally and physically to play 82 games in the NHL + a post season? I highly doubt that. It is a grind in every sense and a big talking point about guys making the jump and why so many young players fall off in the 2nd half of seasons. They need to learn where they need to be to do it. Knies worked all summer to be in shape enough for 82 game grind.

Some people are just really in love with the shiny new toy at the moment and missing the bigger picture.



I should have said 120 points. My point still stands though

Kane’s career high is 110, unless I’m missing something

Edit; ah junior

 

[ACC1224]

And this is the other part of it. Is he good enough to play game 1? Probably. Is he, at 18 years old ready mentally and physically to play 82 games in the NHL + a post season? I highly doubt that. It is a grind in every sense and a big talking point about guys making the jump and why so many young players fall off in the 2nd half of seasons. They need to learn where they need to be to do it. Knies worked all summer to be in shape enough for 82 game grind.

Some people are just really in love with the shiny new toy at the moment and missing the bigger picture.



I should have said 120 points. My point still stands though

They don't play 82 games in junior, 120 is a lot of points.
For perspective Marner got 116 in 57 when sent back. Same year he won every trophy possible for a forward in the CHL.

 

[tmlfan98]

But it is short sighted. If they wanted that they would have signed less players. The chance someone on the roster is hurt before game 1 is high, and if not by game 1 by game 10 almost 100% chance someone is on LTIR. Space will open up naturally. This is why depth is important.

This is a fair and logical take, I just disagree that this is likely to happen. Another LTIR injury could solve all of their cap problems again like last season, or not. Plus short term injuries exist too, and are way more common than LTIR injuries.

Leafs will almost certainly make a trade to clear enough cap to allow them to run 12/7 if no further LTIR injuries present themselves in preseason, so they have a spare on the roster in case of short term/day-to-day type injuries.

Also, you do realize that the LTIR hypothetical you presented also involves the possibility that it's a player with a significant enough cap hit for the Leafs to start the season with a 23-man roster, right? In which case it would be extremely easy to give Cowan a 9 game look if he earns it in camp.

 

[Stephen]

Yep, kid has looked great no doubt but 1/2 speed pre-season is impacting that a touch.

Usually the biggest lesson a D+1 needs to learn is how to dominate their age group.

 

[Chief Berube]

He obviously doesn't make the team BUT I do think 9 games wouldn't hurt his development to get a taste and something to work towards. Kid has a lot of potential to be a true top 6. First 9 games for me would look like this

Bert-AM-MM
Domi-Nylander-Robertson
Knies-JT- Cowan (Jarnkrok after 9 games. Gives him time to recover and be fully healthy instead of rushed back)
Holmberg/Gregor-Kampf- Reaves/Lafferty (This line will shift depending on who we play)

 

[horner]

Yep, kid has looked great no doubt but 1/2 speed pre-season is impacting that a touch.

That's why I think if he keeps this up I could see them giving him a regular season game the back to london.
It would give him and the Leafs knowing whatvhe has to work on

 

[ACC1224]

That's why I think if he keeps this up I could see them giving him a regular season game the back to london.
It would give him and the Leafs knowing whatvhe has to work on

Possibly but even one game will take some cap work, player movement to happen.
I don't see why they would do that when he'll go back anyway.

 

[Fogelhund]

He obviously doesn't make the team BUT I do think 9 games wouldn't hurt his development to get a taste and something to work towards. Kid has a lot of potential to be a true top 6. First 9 games for me would look like this

Bert-AM-MM
Domi-Nylander-Robertson
Knies-JT- Cowan (Jarnkrok after 9 games. Gives him time to recover and be fully healthy instead of rushed back)
Holmberg/Gregor-Kampf- Reaves/Lafferty (This line will shift depending on who we play)

Impossible to do this with the cap.

 

[supermann_98]

Question regarding the potential for him getting 9 games … they give him 9 games this year to slide out his ELC can they give him any games next year to potentially do the same? Or does that burn an ELC year?

IE, let’s say he gets 5 games this year, has a good but not great year (80-90points) in London, and comes into camp next year with questions remaining regarding his readiness … can he theoretically get 4 more games before his ELC year is burned off?

 

[cyris]

I don’t think he is going to start the year with the Leafs but give him whatever he earns imo.
Right now he has earned another preseason game. And tonight should be his chance to earn another one after that.

As to who we would have to take off the roster to fit him in in the unlikely chance he made the big club I’m not worried about that. I see an open spot on the wing anyway because I hate the idea of setting up the roster 11-7 and I don’t care much about losing any of the bubble players on waivers

 

[Mess]

He reminds me a bit of Kadri, looks a bit awkward skating, slight frame, but has offensive skills and tenacity. Of course the awkwardness could be because he's still a teenager.

Funny you should say that ..

Easton Cowan Models His Play After Two Beloved Former Maple Leafs Players​

During an interview, the Maple Leafs' first-round pick, Easton Cowan, compared his playing style to two former Maple Leaf players.

Cowan's Inspirations
The young center mentionned that he looks up to two former Maple Leaf players: Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk. This is a major statement, knowing the impact those two players had in Toronto.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

This kid eats, sleeps and sh*ts hockey .., could not be more excited for a Leaf pick since Matty .. this could be our puck mauling 2nd/3rd line C next year .. wow .. he reads game like a pro already .. you can't teach that .. fearless competitor .. what a steal for late 1st round .. wow wow wow

 

[kb]

Are we seriously talking about demoting Knies to keep Cowan for 9 games? Knies put up 4 points in 7 playoff games under intense situations, while Cowan had 2 points in a preseason game against NHLers in their first action, and AHL/ECHL players. Lets cool the jets on the hype, this is exactly the thing that makes Leaf fans look like a laughing stock.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Are we seriously talking about demoting Knies to keep Cowan for 9 games? Knies put up 4 points in 7 playoff games under intense situations, while Cowan had 2 points in a preseason game against NHLers in their first action, and AHL/ECHL players. Lets cool the jets on the hype, this is exactly the thing that makes Leaf fans look like a laughing stock.

NEIN

I MUST MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SHINY OBJECT

 

[Divine]

Freshly drafted first rounders always impress this time of year and the question of promotion vs development is always bandied about.

Good organizations recognize September hockey is not the same as November hockey and if you’re choosing between rolling the dice seeing if he can make an impact or letting kids go back to dominate a junior season, maybe go to the WJC, this is usually preferable to a premature promotion.

Yes, but it's possible a player is also good enough for the NHL at 18. See RoR, drafted in the second round and made the NHL out of training camp at 18.

Also, like Knies, Cowan brings in an element the Leafs are missing and there's less competition for it. He's aggressive and good at stealing pucks. Gets to the dirty areas and can make plays. The Leafs are mainly skilled players with not enough grinders.

When you add that to the reality that Matthews is getting a raise next year, Nylander is getting a raise next year, and Marner is getting a raise in 2 seasons - the Leafs will be even tighter against the cap with the same players starting from next season. You would want to go all-in as much as you can this season as it's only going to get harder to win a Cup from this point out.

If the Cup is the goal of this core, then it's important they go for it. If they think they'll be just as good in 5 years, then sure, wait it out.

I think this is probably going to be the most competitive team this team can ice. We likely lose all of Domi/Bertuzzi/Klingberg next year. Samsonov is likely gone as well. We might as well go for it. If Cowan is outplaying other grinders - give him every opportunity to contribute. You can always send him down if he doesn't contribute. I'm just advocating he deserves a chance - which posters seem to be against.

 

[Kazparov]

He will not / should not make the team.

Best thing for him is to get a taste of the bigs, soak up the environment , get a bit of success and see what it takes to be a professional hockey player.

Then go back to junior and play 25 minutes a night with a good organization.

 

[Menzinger]

Ultimately Knies and likely even Robertson are going to be prioritized over him when it comes to sheltered development role with the team. They're not going to carry three rookies in the top 9 too.

He may get a few games as a tryout depending on the cap situation, but there's likely no room for him this year paired with the fact that sending him back down in a D+1 scenario is hardly going to harm is development so early, the likelihood of being sent down increases. Much better players than him didn't make the NHL for the Leafs right after being drafted in recent years....