When Easton Cowan enters Toronto Maple Leafs training camp in September, he'll be shooting for a role with the NHL squad.
From Aug. 12 to Aug. 23, I will highlight the top 10 prospects within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. The rankings will be based on:
- Highest ceiling at the NHL level, under 23 years old
- Past season of play on their perspective team
- Closest to seeing an NHL game with the Maple Leafs
There is no more exciting prospect in the Maple Leafs organization than Cowan. His ceiling and his potential are unrivalled within the club.
The 19-year-old had a record-shattering season with the OHL's London Knights, registering a point in 42 straight games (regular season and playoffs). Cowan finished the regular season with a Knights-record 36 consecutive games with a point.
In 54 games, the forward scored 96 points (34 goals, 62 assists), good enough for second on the Knights and seventh in OHL scoring. He also finished the playoffs with the most points on London, scoring 10 goals and 24 assists in 18 games.
The Strathroy, Ontario native was the 2023-24 OHL MVP, making him the first Maple Leafs prospect since Mitch Marner to receive the honor.
As Cowan looks into the future, he has his eyes set on one goal: Making the Maple Leafs out of training camp in October, something he was close to accomplishing last season.
"I want to make the team. That's always been my goal," Cowan said while at Maple Leafs development camp in July.
"I want to play in the NHL one day, and I'm feeling very confident, so I've just got to come into camp, be a very reliable player, someone the coach can trust. I've just got to learn game management a bit better, and I think I'll be good."
Cowan is a very clever player on the ice, and when you tie that creativity in with his work rate, he becomes a very productive player at any level he's at. One of the reasons why Toronto selected him was because of his non-stop motor.
He often outworks his opponent, winning a puck battle to create a chance for himself or one of his teammates. Cowan's hockey IQ is also impressive when finding open space for himself or locating his teammates for a quick pass.
"I think he's going to make a push. It's always hard to take that jump from junior to the NHL," Maple Leafs assistant GM Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser said of Cowan. "But he's proven everybody wrong at every level, so I don't put it past him.
"He's going to have to come into camp. The defensive aspect of the game will be key for him to be able to check and stay up to the pace of the play, not just the offensive side of the game. He's very close and it will be exciting to watch."
Ultimately, the biggest thing for Cowan as he enters Maple Leafs training camp is how he'll handle the physicality of the pro game. Cowan had an impressive showing with Toronto ahead of the 2023-24 season which saw him remain with the team until the start of the regular season.
His ceiling as a top-six winger who can play in all situations is very intriguing. There are some questions about whether this is the right time for the forward to make the NHL squad given his eligibility to remain in the OHL.
With how crowded the Maple Leafs' lineup will be this season, it could benefit Cowan to return to London for one more season. However, if he plays lights out while at training camp, makes the team, and has a solid performance in the first 10 games of the season, how could Toronto say no to keeping him in the NHL?
It's a fascinating debate, but the forward is unquestionably the top prospect in the Maple Leafs organization given his ceiling and rate of production. Whether he sticks in the NHL after the 10 games — which will shave off the first year of his entry-level contract — will be a decision for October.
