'It's Been Hard. I've Been Trying To Justify That These First Couple Games And It Got To Me A Bit': Easton Cowan Looking to Bounce Back and Take Advantage of Opportunity with Main Maple Leafs Lineup

Cowan has been held pointless in his first two pre-season games with the Maple Leafs.

When Easton Cowan steps onto the ice for his third pre-season game with the Maple Leafs, he'll be skating on a line with two London Knights alumni.

The 19-year-old revealed on Thursday following Toronto's optional morning skate that he, Mitch Marner, and Max Domi — all Knights players in junior — will play on a line together against the Montreal Canadiens.

"That'll be pretty exciting. I guess whoever you play with out there, they've mostly all played in the NHL, so they know what they're doing out there," Cowan said. "Any linemate will be a good linemate."

Cowan has professed his love for the Maple Leafs several times since he was selected by Toronto in the first round (28th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Playing with Marner, who the young forward called his favourite player growing up, must be thrilling, even if it's a pre-season game.

The Mount Brydges, Ontario, native says he's spoken to Marner a fair bit during this training camp. On Wednesday, Marner said Cowan is just being himself, which is a positive for a young player in an NHL camp.

"He's got his confidence, he's talking a lot, he's being vocal around the locker room, which is great. That's what you want out of these guys. It's been a lot of fun to watch him. It's been fun to see him just grow since last year. Obviously, he wants to take a bigger role and he wants to be here, so it's always good to see that."

This will be Cowan's third opportunity to impress the Maple Leafs' coaching staff with his skill. Playing with two high-production NHL players will help with that, but so will playing a more "free" game, which he says fits his skill set.

"I feel like I've been playing simple in my D-Zone. I haven't gave up too much, but I'm really looking to be more offensive here tonight and play a bit more free and just play my game and just have a bit more of a free mindset out there."

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said earlier in camp that he wants to see Cowan eliminate the "junior habits" from his game. Berube continued that motion on Thursday, adding he's liked a lot from the young forward, too.

"Well, he's done some real good things. It's just there's things he can improve upon, for sure. But he's not the only one, there's a lot of guys, so there's a lot of camp left."

And on Thursday, by putting Cowan with Domi and Marner, Berube hopes to see the best from the young forward.

"We want to see him. I want to see him in the lineup tonight, playing with some good players. I think he's probably put a lot of pressure on himself here coming into camp, and he needs to just go out and play his game tonight."

It's been a challenge for Cowan, who's trying to play his own game — which is more offensively-minded — while also attempting to play a more responsible game as well.

"Yeah, it's been hard. I've been trying to justify that these first couple games and it got to me a bit. So I'm just looking to build off my first couple games here, and like I said, just play a bit more free and balance those two things."

Cowan is up against stiff competition in this camp. Max Pacioretty, Steven Lorentz, Nick Robertson, and Pontus Holmberg are among the other forwards vying for an opening night roster spot on the Maple Leafs.

And when Cowan steps onto the ice, under the bright lights inside Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, he'll be focused on playing his own game that's already gotten him to where he is today.

"I think just keep moving my feet. I felt like I was thinking a bit too much out there and when I'm moving my feet, I'm at my best. So I'm just going to try to cause some turnovers tonight. Hopefully, capitalize on them."