Sep 25, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan (53) skates during warm up before a game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
A year after coming up short in the Memorial Cup final, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and London Knights forward Easton Cowan is heading back for a chance at redemption in Rimouski.
In a sit-down interview with TSN’s Mark Masters on Thursday, Easton Cowan spoke about how much has changed and how much he's grown since that 4-3 loss to the Saginaw Spirit a year ago.
Helping guide that growth has been the mentorship of Leafs forward and pending unrestricted free agent Mitch Marner.
Cowan, who was drafted 28th overall by the Leafs in 2023, has formed a strong relationship with the star winger. What began as admiration for Marner growing up has turned into a line of support from someone who knows exactly what it means to play at a high level in London and wear the Maple Leaf.
“It’s been awesome,” Cowan said. “I text him quite a bit, he texts me all the time. Always congratulates me and sees how I’m doing. He’s been nothing but great to me. I really look up to him. He’s been my childhood favorite player ever since I was growing up. To be able to text him whenever has meant the world to me. It’s super cool and I’m forever grateful for that.”
But the most meaningful lesson Marner’s passed along?
“Never take anything for granted,” said Cowan. “Enjoy your time in London, your time in Toronto will come. Just kinda enjoy every moment with the team here in London so I’ve been really just sitting back every day and hanging out with my teammates a lot and getting close with them because you never know when it’s your last day with each other.”
That mindset has been central to Cowan’s approach all season long.
After a dominant playoff run that saw the Knights go 16-1, winning their second straight J. Ross Robertson Cup, Cowan is focused on making the most of this second chance at the Memorial Cup.
“It means a lot. Just to have that opportunity again,” he said. “I think most of us thought about it all summer when we were training and having to push a bit more. Unfortunately, we lost, but like they say, you come back stronger, and I feel like we have a really close group. We’re excited for another opportunity at it.”
The Mount Brydges, Ont., native has done his part. After recording 10 goals and 24 assists in last year’s playoffs, he raised the bar in the 2025 postseason, notching 13 goals, 26 assists, and a league-best 39 points in 17 playoff games. In doing so, he led all OHL skaters in postseason scoring for the second year in a row.
That offensive production came on top of a strong regular season, where Cowan put up 69 points (29G, 40A) in just 46 games with London.
“I think I’ve really rounded my game out well,” Cowan said. “Good 200-foot game. Obviously, I didn’t have the point-per-game production in the regular season, but it eventually came in the playoffs. Just being able to manage the puck and being able to manage the puck at different times of the game. When to be risky, when not to be risky. Just getting pucks out and getting pucks in. I feel like I’ve matured my game a lot.”
That maturity was tested during an OHL Finals rematch, where the 20-year-old went head-to-head with fellow Leafs first-rounder Ben Danford, the captain of the Oshawa Generals.
“It was cool. I mostly saw him every shift,” Cowan explained. “He’s a great player, hard to play against, blocks every shot and makes good plays. I actually was just texting him now. It’s good to catch up again. It's always fun playing against him. Excited to see him at development camp this summer.”
“I’ve always thought he had sneaky good offensive skill,” added Cowan of Danford. “Not many people talk about it, but I think he’s really good offensively and then obviously, defensively, he blocks every shot, makes good outlet passes, and wears the ‘C’. So, he’s a great leader, a great guy, and really fun to play against.”
The 2025 Memorial Cup represents unfinished business for Cowan and the 13 returnees on the roster.
“You might not play with each other ever again. So, you can’t take anything for granted,” he said.
The ‘Cowboy’ enters the tournament with a strong junior resume.
He was named the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player and took home the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as playoff MVP last season, now earning back-to-back J. Ross Robertson Cups. He also led all players at the 2024 Memorial Cup with eight points (3G, 5A) in four games, and now, he will look to repeat that effort as London attempts to finish the job this time around.
Cowan and the Knights start the tournament against the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday, May 24 at 6:00 p.m. EST.
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