I’d say if our director of player development is saying that, it’s probably a pretty damn good sign.
Best-Bumblebee-9772
Whoa – that’s awesome. Especially given draft day angst and how much this fan base complained about the pick.
Svalbard38
I don’t want to rush Cowan but I also don’t see what’s left for him to prove in the OHL. OHL champion, OHL MVP, OHL playoff MVP, Memorial Cup leading scorer, and his point streak was up there with HHOFers. I’m not sure how much more another season in Junior would do for his development and if he’s one of our 12 best forwards in the preseason I don’t see how we deny him a spot.
crushade
~~10~~ 9 game trial run to start the season is his to lose at this point I would imagine.
He’s not got a whole lot left to help his development at the OHL level and he can’t go to the Marlies yet. Great opportunity for Easton to show us what he can do! There is a spot available, but I still think it’s a bit of a long shot.
twofactorial
I feel like every year we get a nice surprise and someone steps up – hoping it’s Cowan!
Dlp1996
Watching him in the OHL post season I didn’t see anything special but it wouldn’t surprise me if he could play in a support role alongside our star players next season.. playing him with a Kampf and Reeves will expose him
TheFoundation_
I read this as Hayley Wickenheiser was close the nhl and was so confused for a second
Strangle1441
Guys like Cowan is why you always want to keep drafting and not empty the cupboards until you have a real shot at a cup, and not to continue year after year and failing
You have this great high end talent right now, and a parade of ‘over-ready’ prospects to come in and bolster the roster would really ease the pressure of trading 1sts for guys like Foligno
And keep the championship window open for as long as possible
FollowingNecessary43
I hope they wait till he adds strength. His skill will be there. They rushed Marner and now he dodges everyone.
Satyr9
I would love at this point yo see Tavares/McMann/Marner be tasked as shutdown line 1. Kampf/Holmberg//jarnkrok to be shutdown 2. Let Matthews/Domi/Nylander crush offensive starts and Cowan/Knies/Robertson murder 4th lines.
I know it’s absurd to ask Cowan to be a 19 year old C, but that’s clearly what we need him to become, so throw him and let him grow. Alternatively, give him jarnkrok and knies for better support, but I like the kids line for pure get and go.
At best he learns fast and he saves the Leafs a future first having to trade for a Dvorak or Nelson or Granlund at the.deadline
Rowdy_Roddy96
I.e. Our Brayden Point
rampas_inhumanas
Minten looked good in camp and got some games. I’d expect the same for Cowan if he shows well.
HeyMarty10thalready
He should prob start in the AHL and see how it goes
Nameless908
My guess is he’ll get called up to a few games this season but won’t be a regular. I’m in no hurry to see his development rushed, he seems to be on the right projection right now. He could torch preseason though and change all that. 👀
SittlersRippedC
He should get a few games at the end of the season and not burn a year. Nylander treatment. Patience worked for him. This kid has potential, but he won’t be ready as quickly as Marner.
EbbStraight9917
If this is true, and he is in fact close to NHL ready, I’d give him the spot over Robertson and look to package Robo with something like Kampf, Timmins and picks for a 2C with some salary retained. Maybe someone like Backlund? The lineup versatility could be insane. Being able to put JT on the wing with AM to play as his backboard. Swap domi to a 3rd line C role or on AMs wing. You could drop Marner to a 3rd line with Jarn and Mcmann come playoffs throw domi uptop with JT and AM, Knies Willy Backlund L2. If Cowan proves it through the season you don’t have to hide him in the playoffs and can play him on the 4th with Dewar/Pontus or whatever other depth moves we make.
CybertruckStalker
How does she know? He hasn’t even stepped on nhl ice yet.
power_of_funk
Doesn’t make sense to play him with Kampf/reaves on the 4th line and our 3rd line is probably going to be a liability even without Cowan. He’s got to be good enough to skate in the top 6 for it to work
Huge_Beginning5552
Honestly thought he looked good enough from training camp LAST year
purpletomatoe420
I didn’t think he looked terribly out of place last preseason.
baylaust
If they’re saying this that early in free agency, I suspect he’ll be playing NHL games this upcoming season. Maybe not as a regular member of the roster, but at some point when there’s a hole in their roster they need to fill due to injury, they’ll give him a tryout.
jcanada22
It’s also about playing time. Getting 10-12 minutes with the leafs of 22-25 with the knights. I guess we’ll see.
Jaymesned
About 3 months away from it, by my calculations.
FansTurnOnYou
Conventional wisdom would say that we should let him be 100% (or even more) ready before promoting him full time but I enjoyed watching him last preseason and I would selfishly love to burn a year on his ELC to see what he can do with more than a handful of games. This team is so… indifferent to winning regular season games that I would love to see a guy fighting for his (NHL) life and hopefully bringing up the energy level in this team.
Zealousideal-Swing39
They should pre-season a number #1 line of:
Cowen-Minten-Robertson
TorturedFanClub
The way the forward group and cap is looking, I’d say the Leafs could use Cowan
28 Comments
I’d say if our director of player development is saying that, it’s probably a pretty damn good sign.
Whoa – that’s awesome. Especially given draft day angst and how much this fan base complained about the pick.
I don’t want to rush Cowan but I also don’t see what’s left for him to prove in the OHL. OHL champion, OHL MVP, OHL playoff MVP, Memorial Cup leading scorer, and his point streak was up there with HHOFers. I’m not sure how much more another season in Junior would do for his development and if he’s one of our 12 best forwards in the preseason I don’t see how we deny him a spot.
~~10~~ 9 game trial run to start the season is his to lose at this point I would imagine.
He’s not got a whole lot left to help his development at the OHL level and he can’t go to the Marlies yet. Great opportunity for Easton to show us what he can do! There is a spot available, but I still think it’s a bit of a long shot.
I feel like every year we get a nice surprise and someone steps up – hoping it’s Cowan!
Watching him in the OHL post season I didn’t see anything special but it wouldn’t surprise me if he could play in a support role alongside our star players next season.. playing him with a Kampf and Reeves will expose him
I read this as Hayley Wickenheiser was close the nhl and was so confused for a second
Guys like Cowan is why you always want to keep drafting and not empty the cupboards until you have a real shot at a cup, and not to continue year after year and failing
You have this great high end talent right now, and a parade of ‘over-ready’ prospects to come in and bolster the roster would really ease the pressure of trading 1sts for guys like Foligno
And keep the championship window open for as long as possible
I hope they wait till he adds strength. His skill will be there. They rushed Marner and now he dodges everyone.
I would love at this point yo see Tavares/McMann/Marner be tasked as shutdown line 1. Kampf/Holmberg//jarnkrok to be shutdown 2. Let Matthews/Domi/Nylander crush offensive starts and Cowan/Knies/Robertson murder 4th lines.
I know it’s absurd to ask Cowan to be a 19 year old C, but that’s clearly what we need him to become, so throw him and let him grow. Alternatively, give him jarnkrok and knies for better support, but I like the kids line for pure get and go.
At best he learns fast and he saves the Leafs a future first having to trade for a Dvorak or Nelson or Granlund at the.deadline
I.e. Our Brayden Point
Minten looked good in camp and got some games. I’d expect the same for Cowan if he shows well.
He should prob start in the AHL and see how it goes
My guess is he’ll get called up to a few games this season but won’t be a regular. I’m in no hurry to see his development rushed, he seems to be on the right projection right now. He could torch preseason though and change all that. 👀
He should get a few games at the end of the season and not burn a year. Nylander treatment. Patience worked for him. This kid has potential, but he won’t be ready as quickly as Marner.
If this is true, and he is in fact close to NHL ready, I’d give him the spot over Robertson and look to package Robo with something like Kampf, Timmins and picks for a 2C with some salary retained. Maybe someone like Backlund? The lineup versatility could be insane. Being able to put JT on the wing with AM to play as his backboard. Swap domi to a 3rd line C role or on AMs wing. You could drop Marner to a 3rd line with Jarn and Mcmann come playoffs throw domi uptop with JT and AM, Knies Willy Backlund L2. If Cowan proves it through the season you don’t have to hide him in the playoffs and can play him on the 4th with Dewar/Pontus or whatever other depth moves we make.
How does she know? He hasn’t even stepped on nhl ice yet.
Doesn’t make sense to play him with Kampf/reaves on the 4th line and our 3rd line is probably going to be a liability even without Cowan. He’s got to be good enough to skate in the top 6 for it to work
Honestly thought he looked good enough from training camp LAST year
I didn’t think he looked terribly out of place last preseason.
If they’re saying this that early in free agency, I suspect he’ll be playing NHL games this upcoming season. Maybe not as a regular member of the roster, but at some point when there’s a hole in their roster they need to fill due to injury, they’ll give him a tryout.
It’s also about playing time. Getting 10-12 minutes with the leafs of 22-25 with the knights. I guess we’ll see.
About 3 months away from it, by my calculations.
Conventional wisdom would say that we should let him be 100% (or even more) ready before promoting him full time but I enjoyed watching him last preseason and I would selfishly love to burn a year on his ELC to see what he can do with more than a handful of games. This team is so… indifferent to winning regular season games that I would love to see a guy fighting for his (NHL) life and hopefully bringing up the energy level in this team.
They should pre-season a number #1 line of:
Cowen-Minten-Robertson
The way the forward group and cap is looking, I’d say the Leafs could use Cowan
https://preview.redd.it/y53n0jvzbead1.jpeg?width=1382&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4fc079d3532da29f4b1cd8a4d60370b4eec5b357
He needs some size and strength on him no? Put him on some roids this summer.