Yeah that's exactly the problem. Guys like Cowan would be better slotted in this lineup if they didn't leave clear top six options like Misa and Sennecke at home. Cowan could still play in the top six but as a skilled energy guy playing off guys like the two aforementioned, he just isn't the guy to drive the bus at this level.
There's too much pressure on Cowan to be more than he is, and that's probably leaking into his decision making with the over aggressive penalty and just not delivering on the level you'd expect based on his junior resume. He should be a key complimentary player and not be shouldering so much of the spotlight on a properly built Team Canada. I sympathize that he's sort of been set up to fail in that sense but still have to say I would have expected more based on the hype that's built over the last year plus. He can be a good pro but I don't see an elite prospect, the Toronto (TSN etc) hype train may be doing him a disservice in that sense.