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

[Cap'n Flavour]

He was not good enough to make the Leaf’s at camp, IMO, too good to go back to Junior and not allowed to play in the AHL.

He's tied for 8th in goals/game in the OHL and quite a bit further back in PPG, that's hardly "too good for junior".

 

[Budz]

He's tied for 8th in goals/game in the OHL and quite a bit further back in PPG, that's hardly "too good for junior".

You are missing the point.

It’s irreverent how many points he puts up in Junior. I realize it’s REALLY hard for some to understand.

He will not play the same role on the Leaf’s as he currently plays in London. What he needs, is a higher level of competition to work in the role he will be playing.

 

[ULF_55]

In context, Cowan led the team in scoring. Relative to his efforts and output, how dissatisfied can we be with a team that doesn't look like it was properly constructed, or worse; The Canadian program is in catastrophic decline. I wonder how many of us remember Don Cherry's prediction years and years ago, that given then current trends, the American program would surpass the Canadian program.

I think Cowan will be fine, and trading him now is obviously emotionally reflexive to an important (missed) annual goal in Canadian hockey. But has the saying, "Canada is Hockey. Hockey is Canada" ever had a darker connotation? Hockey Canada, like our country's government, needs to adjust course with impunity.

If I'm the organization with either Cowan or George I'm breathing a sigh of relief despite the team result, because in spite of the dumpster fire, they found ways to contribute. Cowan's fine.

Canada only had 1 player with more than 1 goal?

Obviously, no superstar going 1st. overall in this upcoming draft out of Canada.

Just watched some highlights. Was the defense that leaky all tournament?

Not a good team. At least the Leafs usually wins a couple games in the playoffs, but they lack top end players who can win anything. Most of their players aren't winners, so Cowan won't have to go into a locker where he's the only player who can't win the big games.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

You are missing the point.

It’s irreverent how many points he puts up in Junior. I realize it’s REALLY hard for some to understand.

He will not play the same role on the Leaf’s as he currently plays in London. What he needs, is a higher level of competition to work in the role he will be playing.

That's nonsense. He has plenty of skills that are not even top tier at the junior level. This theory of players getting spoiled by too many years of junior barely has any evidence to support it and even if it did, it's mostly applicable to players who are actually good enough to play in the NHL at 19, not guys who can't even dominate their age group.

 

[DuklaNation]

He looks like a 3rd line talent to me. Not sure if people are expecting more but hes just one of those players who don't really excel at anything.

 

[ULF_55]

That's nonsense. He has plenty of skills that are not even top tier at the junior level. This theory of players getting spoiled by too many years of junior barely has any evidence to support it and even if it did, it's mostly applicable to players who are actually good enough to play in the NHL at 19, not guys who can't even dominate their age group.

Isn't it obvious, that Canadian team had no players who could dominate players in their own age group.

Seems Cowan fit right in that regard.

Just a year when Canada couldn't ice a competitive team.

Canada is just another country that has hockey players, there no magic in Canada.

 

[Stringer Bell]

He looks like a 3rd line talent to me. Not sure if people are expecting more but hes just one of those players who don't really excel at anything.

Ross Colton type?

With potential to be Brandon Hagel type?

 

[ITM]

Canada only had 1 player with more than 1 goal?

Obviously, no superstar going 1st. overall in this upcoming draft out of Canada.

Just watched some highlights. Was the defense that leaky all tournament?

Not a good team. At least the Leafs usually wins a couple games in the playoffs, but they lack top end players who can win anything. Most of their players aren't winners, so Cowan won't have to go into a locker where he's the only player who can't win the big games.

Yes, sir. And check out how many on Team Canada only had one goal HERE. Weird.

Click on United States in the drop down menu for what an offense running on world junior cylinders looks like -- our shot totals paired with a reliance on the PP is all kinds of red flags.

Funny enough, read a couple of dissatisfied American supporters talk about (Trey) Augustine's ups and downs. To my eyes, Augustine, not Cossa is Detroit's best goaltending prospect. Just goes to show, the what have you done for me lately crowd knows no limits.

 

[ITM]

Ross Colton type?

With potential to be Brandon Hagel type?

I'd be happy as a pig in, if Cowan turns into a Hagel type. I think Cowan gets to producing quicker than Hagel, but not as physical.

Personally, I was hoping for a Brayden Point/Point-lite ceiling. Point's developmental arc was upward. He just got better and better.

Interestingly, Point's world junior totals weren't world beating either. So there's hope either way.

 

[ULF_55]

Yes, sir. And check out how many on Team Canada only had one goal HERE. Weird.

Click on United States in the drop down menu for what an offense running on world junior cylinders looks like -- our shot totals paired with a reliance on the PP is all kinds of red flags.

Funny enough, read a couple of dissatisfied American supporters talk about (Trey) Augustine's ups and downs. To my eyes, Augustine, not Cossa is Detroit's best goaltending prospect. Just goes to show, the what have you done for me lately crowd knows no limits.

I used to use the IIHF page, but IIRC it used to be better constructed.

 

[mikeyz]

 

[ITM]

I used to use the IIHF page, but IIRC it used to be better constructed.

Same. Just found TSN's set-up a little quicker, a little simpler, all the tell-tale stats at a glance, drop-down menu, etc, etc.

 

[Sypher04]

For a team that couldn’t stay out of the penalty box the entire tournament it’s especially perplexing that Cowan, one of the best penalty killers in junior hockey wasn’t on their PK. I didn’t watch all the games, but I also thought I saw they chose to put McKenna on the the top PP over Cowan as well which did not seem to be a choice that paid off either.

This is exactly the kind of crap take I’d expect from him. The first part is somewhat okay, the last sentence is pure sensationalism/knee-jerking

 

[horner]

For a team that couldn’t stay out of the penalty box the entire tournament it’s especially perplexing that Cowan, one of the best penalty killers in junior hockey wasn’t on their PK. I didn’t watch all the games, but I also thought I saw they chose to put McKenna on the the top PP over Cowan as well which did not seem to be a choice that paid off either.



This is exactly the kind of crap take I’d expect from him. The first part is somewhat okay, the last sentence is pure sensationalism/knee-jerking

I agree.
2 yrs in a row the coaching staff sucked it's not all on the players.
Cameron this yr threw up his hand so the pla brought to the tournament yers did the same .
He should have benched the first player that took a bad penalty but nothing .
He just opened the door.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Because he can score in junior and there is always someone willing to take a chance on kids like that .. happens all da time

Maybe they can get a guy scoring in juniors by drafting one with their top 10 pick?

 

[Leafs87]

Awful showing by Canada, but I actually saw Cowan as a stand out. His play was strong and take away the missed penalty shot and brainless penalty I can’t say he was a negative. That team from submission to coaching was awful however

 

[Stephen]

In context, Cowan led the team in scoring. Relative to his efforts and output, how dissatisfied can we be with a team that doesn't look like it was properly constructed, or worse; The Canadian program is in catastrophic decline. I wonder how many of us remember Don Cherry's prediction years and years ago, that given then current trends, the American program would surpass the Canadian program.

I think Cowan will be fine, and trading him now is obviously emotionally reflexive to an important (missed) annual goal in Canadian hockey. But has the saying, "Canada is Hockey. Hockey is Canada" ever had a darker connotation? Hockey Canada, like our country's government, needs to adjust course with impunity.

If I'm the organization with either Cowan or George I'm breathing a sigh of relief despite the team result, because in spite of the dumpster fire, they found ways to contribute. Cowan's fine.

Obviously it would have been preferable had he broken out a la Brayden Schenn and Canada had won gold powered by a Leaf prospect, but the WJC is really no reliable indicator of how a prospect will turn out. Just a nice milestone, confidence builder.

 

[Americanadian]

I’m not reading 74 pages so I’m sorry if someone pointed this out but does this not feel identical to Marner at the WJC in 2016?

 

[dubey]

I didn't watch the WJC but I'm getting the impression that the success of this team was entirely pinned on the 28th overall draft pick from last year?

How bad was this team exactly lol

 

[ULF_55]

Enter all the players names into that list.

Going along with Sid's analysis, I think the Leafs should be checking into the availability of all the drafted playes on that Canadian team.

Think they could get Bonk for Robertson?

 

[Taylor Halls Teeth]

Its a short tournament so not a real indicator of anyone's future. Cowan was an MVP last season and that 72 game sample is big enough to mean more than anything so far this season. But he is maybe off the track he was on and will have to find his way back on the horse.

He isnt looking like a Leaf to start next year right now but most of the league weren't able to ever play for a national team so I still think he is an A prospect. But the idea that he is a keeper no matter what was never a thing for me, for the right offer. The future is now and if some other club loves the guy you have to consider it. They didn't add Tanev for 3 years down the road right?

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Sid's a plug but let's be honest, if we're going all in this year something may need to give. We don't have a 1st in 2025, Knies is not going anywhere, none of our other prospects have the value of Cowen.

 

[Warden of the North]

This tournament has had exactly zero effect on my opinion of him.

 

[Kiwi]

This tournament has had exactly zero effect on my opinion of him.

He's a late first rounder who projects to be a middle 6W with a ton of special teams value

People losing there minds over a mid season tournament on a Canadian team that has some serious issues instead of what he's done in London for the last couple of years is nuts

He's not untouchable but trading him in a knee jerk fashion isn't smart

 

[Mr_Fun]

Looking at the comments, it seems to be about 40/60 to trade this guy, all based (or assumingly based) on his poor play in the tourney. Man, Leaf fans are very reactionary on the whole. That tourney just isn’t a great indicator on what you have. It’s basically throwing some kids together in a short time and saying to them “be good”. I don’t recall a lot of people saying before the tourney that the Leafs should trade Cowan?

To be honest, some of the comments I’ve read online about the entire program make Canadians seem like a bunch of dolts.