Development Camp
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Maple Leafs assistant GM, Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, spoke from Leafs Development Camp on Wednesday, revealing how likely Easton Cowan is to make the jump to the NHL this year.
The Maple Leafs surprised everyone last summer when they went off the board in the late stages of the 1st round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, selecting London Knights standout Easton Cowan with the 28th overall pick.
After a breakout season with London this year, nobody doubts this kid's skill level anymore and now it appears as though he may, in fact, make a push for the NHL this season.
Wickenheiser was among the Leafs brass present for the event, working on some of the key areas of development for these young players, and when asked about Cowan's chances of making the NHL in 2024-25 out of training camp, she couldn't help but beam about the top prospect, highlighting his work ethic as one of the reasons why he has a good chance to make the NHL.
Fogelhund
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SprDaVE
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- Sep 20, 2008
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Great to hear!
We’re always the bridesmaids when it comes to these big bodied dmen. Always trying to chase these guys in FA, have to overbid/overpay, and if we get them they are usually slowing down as players.
Huge get to trade for this guy and develop him. I look forward to our D core in 3-5 years.
Looks as though they're stacking one side to see who stands out on the lesser side.
Could be wrong but looks that way.
Fogelhund
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TheMadHatTrick
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Danford think Muzzin. Cowan think Tucker. Not bad.
He is in. He is a leader. You don't get rid of those guys.
It sounds like he will have a great AHL career.
Slow D who don't move well don't often make it to the NHL and succeed.
Just for reference, he is Robertson's draft, he is not super young and is now in his D+5 I believe.
Young enough, but he has to figure things out quickly.
ULF_55
Moderator
I'm looking for a scouting report that says he's slow.
I've read about 4 that say skating in a straight line is fine and his skating is decent for a player his size.
I would suspect he is no waterbug.
From the tape I've seen he doesn't look mobile and often looks lost.
Saying someone is a good skater for their size is never a good endorsement for me, it just means his skating is not NHL level but he's big.
I hope I am wrong about him, but I don't understand the hype, from everything I've seen he is limited and likely will be a career AHLer.
Also, a D that is leading the league in shot blocking and hits means he likely never has the puck and is defending, I think without watching him too much it is hard to tell if this is a good thing or not.
I'm more worried about his lack of puck skills than skating by the way.
CabanaBoy5
Registered User
I just read this article on Cade, doesn’t seem to be a slow skater. In fact he skates well in straight lines and has “above average agility in open ice”.
A Capfriendly scouting report grades him a B+ and projects him for the third pair. They state his skating has “matured” in college. They rated his skating 79.
Why are you dissing this guy? Not a Dubas pickup? Do you have the information others don’t?
I'm more concerned with his puck skills and decision making.
"His puck playing ability is limited to basic passes, and he struggles when he goes beyond that."
This was a real quote about him.
I think being able to make passes is important, maybe others don't, not sure.
He is a prospect, that is fine, but he is just getting a lot of hype and I don't see it.
I've tried to find more tape on him but have seen very little, if you have more, please send it, I'd love to be wrong.
He was also traded for a 6th 5 years after his draft and when he was closer to a finished product... I think the team trading him had knowledge of who he was and deemed a 6th was worth more. Maybe the trade will blow up in their face, just saying, that was the value assigned to him from the team that drafted him.
I'd just like to see more tape to get a better idea of the player he is, but from what I saw and what I read, I am unimpressed with a D first player who spends a lot of time blocking shots in his own end and struggles to do more than make a first pass and can't put up any points.
ULF_55
Moderator
I have no clue what you're talking about or how this is relevant to the current discussion.
The Jets deeming a player is not ready for the NHL so therefore the Canes sold too low on Webber?
You'd think that the Leafs had the best offer for Webber and that's why they got him.
CabanaBoy5
Registered User
Your point about what he was traded for is well taken. However, it wouldn't be the first time a team gave up on a prospect and the prospect went on to become a solid NHL'er.
From what I've read, he has improved this year in many aspects of his game. In that Capfriendly scouting report he's gone from a D+ to a B+ prospect. As for your comment about being able to make passes, dobberprospects.com reported in May that despite being a pure defensive defenceman, he can "move the puck quickly out of his own end". I assume that means he can make a good pass.
I have no illusions that he's going to be a top 4 d-man, but it sounds like he has the potential to be a solid shot-blocking 5/6 defenceman.
Cade Webber Scouting Report - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps
Cade Webber scouting report powered by The Pro Hockey Group
www.capfriendly.com
Stephen
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Your point about what he was traded for is well taken. However, it wouldn't be the first time a team gave up on a prospect and the prospect went on to become a solid NHL'er.
From what I've read, he has improved this year in many aspects of his game. In that Capfriendly scouting report he's gone from a D+ to a B+ prospect. As for your comment about being able to make passes, dobberprospects.com reported in May that despite being a pure defensive defenceman, he can "move the puck quickly out of his own end". I assume that means he can make a good pass.
I have no illusions that he's going to be a top 4 d-man, but it sounds like he has the potential to be a solid shot-blocking 5/6 defenceman.
Cade Webber Scouting Report - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps
Cade Webber scouting report powered by The Pro Hockey Group
Cade Webber said he was watching a lot of Jani Hakanpaa tape in the prospects interview earlier this week in developing as a defensive defenseman. Both are 6'7" monsters.
Fact is, when you're talking about a shot blocking, cycle busting, net front clearing type of D, a lot of the verbiage about skill, IQ and puck moving ability is not going to be that relevant because if he had high end puck transporting, offensive upside and elite wheels he'd be the next Victor Hedman.
If they are so limited that he spends most of the time in his own end, it is an issue.
It's why a player like Edmundson sucks, sure he hits a lot and blocks shots, but it is because he can't get the puck out of his own end.
Your point about what he was traded for is well taken. However, it wouldn't be the first time a team gave up on a prospect and the prospect went on to become a solid NHL'er.
From what I've read, he has improved this year in many aspects of his game. In that Capfriendly scouting report he's gone from a D+ to a B+ prospect. As for your comment about being able to make passes, dobberprospects.com reported in May that despite being a pure defensive defenceman, he can "move the puck quickly out of his own end". I assume that means he can make a good pass.
I have no illusions that he's going to be a top 4 d-man, but it sounds like he has the potential to be a solid shot-blocking 5/6 defenceman.
Cade Webber Scouting Report - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps
Cade Webber scouting report powered by The Pro Hockey Group
I appreciate the well-thought-out response.
I won't comment on how good Capfriendly's prospect rankings are, I know it is fairly new so I have no clue.
I've read mixed things about his puck skills, but a good first pass is the bare minimum he should have, and if that is all he has, it's still an issue.
Like I said though, I've watched limit tape and his puck skills don't seem great, and his defensive awareness seems poor (which is a strength apparently).
He seems to just get his big body in a lane and hope it hits him, he doesn't anticipate plays well.
We will find out more with the Marlies this year, but just don't have high hopes, hoping I am wrong and I just saw bad games.
BertCorbeau
F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
As long as Webber has the IQ to make the smart play, and the skill to execute, that’s what will help him at the pro level.
Leaf Fans
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Gamble9
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Not really sure what your expecting for puck skills from a 6 7 defensive specialist who was acquired for a 6th round pick he's the shiny new toy but I havnt heard anyone say anything about him really pumping his tires at all other than a interview with the media
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