What ever happen to Jared Cowen.
- Thread starter ManBearPig613
- Start date
LevelingSolo
Registered User
- Jan 15, 2012
- 4,856
- 6,606
He was invited to Avalanche PTO after the Maple Leafs fiasco but got released...I guess he was healthy enough but lack of the desire to toil around in AHL or Europe afterward.
"I think Jared wants to be more than he is. I think he thinks he can be an offensive player, when really he can bring a little bit of offense, but we want him to be the big, strong, defensive player that uses his stick, uses his body and helps us win just based on doing that." - Bryan Murray
When asked to respond to management's concerns, Cowen had this to say. “I don’t hear it because I don’t pay attention to that stuff because it doesn’t really matter.”
So to answer your question, Cowen's principle issue was mindset.
He saw himself as the second coming of Zdeno Chara. He would have had more lasting success in the league if he was more coachable, and accepted that he could have a Hall Gill type of role.
Sure, his mobility was limited after encountering hip issues. But at no point was he willing to give up on his hope of being the next Larry Robinson. His alleged medicinal marijuana enjoyment also didn't help things, and if true was impacting his decision making on the ice, as well as his approach to media and management.
Also of note, Pierre Dorion, who at the time under Bryan Murray was responsible for all RFA contract negotiations, offered Cowen an eight, yes eight year deal worth $28 million... which Cowen turned down. Talk about lucky.
When asked to respond to management's concerns, Cowen had this to say. “I don’t hear it because I don’t pay attention to that stuff because it doesn’t really matter.”
So to answer your question, Cowen's principle issue was mindset.
He saw himself as the second coming of Zdeno Chara. He would have had more lasting success in the league if he was more coachable, and accepted that he could have a Hall Gill type of role.
Sure, his mobility was limited after encountering hip issues. But at no point was he willing to give up on his hope of being the next Larry Robinson. His alleged medicinal marijuana enjoyment also didn't help things, and if true was impacting his decision making on the ice, as well as his approach to media and management.
Also of note, Pierre Dorion, who at the time under Bryan Murray was responsible for all RFA contract negotiations, offered Cowen an eight, yes eight year deal worth $28 million... which Cowen turned down. Talk about lucky.
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We dodged a huge bullet by him not signing that contract however at the time I thought he was going to be the next Chara.
Reading that quote makes me miss Bryan Murray...legend!
NyQuil
Big F$&*in Q
Beat me to it, well said.
He was an all-rounder back in the WHL with Spokane, putting up 78 points in 117 GP in his final two seasons, and I think he expected that to continue.
He did not have the toolset for that kind of play in the big leagues, and his injury troubles only compounded his issues.
Ottawa has had a bit of trouble with the transition of a few defencemen from Juniors to the big leagues. Jared Cowen and Cody Ceci are good examples of two guys who I think were worse off than when they started by the time they left the team.
Ceci managed to turn things around elsewhere, but we tried to turn him into a shutdown guy and threw him out in those kinds of situations and his overall confidence and mental game suffered.
Cowen never really used his size effectively (much like another Senator, Patrick Wiercioch), so when you're a big body who is slow and not overly physical, not overly offensive, and yet you have an expectation of prime minutes and prime situations, there's a big disconnect.
My brother has a penchant for off-the-board jerseys, and has a Cowen along with a Sillinger. (weird)
NyQuil
Big F$&*in Q
The memory that comes to mind for me for Jared Cowen is this OT goal.
It's funny because Erik Karlsson and Jared Cowen are both the deepest Ottawa players in the zone. Karlsson from the offensive corner to Cowen in front of the net.
How's that for positional play, LOL.
He was also one of the combatants in the famous line brawl against Montreal where Ottawa won all 5 of the fights enroute to a 6-1 victory in the playoffs.
It's funny because Erik Karlsson and Jared Cowen are both the deepest Ottawa players in the zone. Karlsson from the offensive corner to Cowen in front of the net.
How's that for positional play, LOL.
He was also one of the combatants in the famous line brawl against Montreal where Ottawa won all 5 of the fights enroute to a 6-1 victory in the playoffs.
NyQuil
Big F$&*in Q
He really fell off a cliff and his play just tanked.
My memory of Cowan is that he actually had a really solid rookie season in 11-12 at age 20 but then suffered a serious hip injury the following year and his play and mobility never recovered.
The Devilish Buffoon
Registered User
- Dec 24, 2018
- 12,774
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That's exactly correct.
He had a stretch of games when Karlsson was injured where he looked incredible.
Cowen never had the work ethic needed to really persevere through adversity, and the hip injury was a huge obstacle that he could never overcome.
If you put Dan Girardi's drive in Jared Cowen, he'd probably be at the tail end of a decade of top 4 play. Just my opinion, of course.
dahrougem2
Registered User
As soon as this guy had hip surgery, he looked like he was literally skating in mud on the ice. He was horrible after the surgery. Any mobility he once had was completely gone.
I still think the biggest issue is his attitude. A lot of players who struggled in the NHL still managed to have successful careers in Europe or the KHL. But at 25, he just decided, "I’m done with hockey." He did have some bad injuries, but toward the end of his career, he was still trying to get a PTO.
BoardsofCanada
Registered User
I was never that impressed with him. His mobility left a lot to be desired. That said, there were glimpses of a potentially dominant player in 12-13 and especially in the first round playoff series with Montreal that year.
He was a massive guy, not just tall but 30-40 pounds heavier than most other players on the ice. I think it was a hip injury that ended his career.
He was a massive guy, not just tall but 30-40 pounds heavier than most other players on the ice. I think it was a hip injury that ended his career.
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
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Probably rushed his return back from hip surgery the first time and it never properly healed and lead to re-injury.
The decision not to pursue other opportunities after being released from the PTO in Training Camp 2017 is a bit odd. At 26 years of age, there were likely other professional opportunities that could have been available, but some guys apparently don't want to try and grind it out in the minors or overseas like that.
The decision not to pursue other opportunities after being released from the PTO in Training Camp 2017 is a bit odd. At 26 years of age, there were likely other professional opportunities that could have been available, but some guys apparently don't want to try and grind it out in the minors or overseas like that.
