There's been much hype for the OHL's most outstanding player, Easton Cowan. But can he make the jump to the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season? Easton Cowan [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2OTQ4MjQ4Mzg3MDY4OTc5/usatsi_21502902_168400847_lowres.jpg] Easton Cowan Easton Cowan has had quite the year since the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted him 28th overall last year. The 19-year-old forced the Leafs to give him a longer look in the pre-season before joining the OHL's London Knights. He then played a major role in the Knights finishing first in the regular season, first in the playoffs and a close second in the Memorial Cup. He earned the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL's most outstanding player, the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL playoff MVP and a spot on the CHL's first all-star team after recording 96 points in 54 games and 34 points in 18 post-season games. During that time, Cowan was also part of Canada's world juniors team, recording a goal and an assist in five games. With that, the expectations for the Mount Brydges, Ont., native have grown, with pundits predicting he will crack the NHL lineup next season. The Maple Leafs are expected to make some moves this off-season, which could free a spot for Cowan to be a bargain for the team on his entry-level contract. But jumping from the OHL to the NHL is a difficult task. And there's really no in-between for Cowan, who would have to return to the OHL if he doesn't crack the Maple Leafs roster under the terms of the CHL/NHL transfer agreement. Unless the Leafs scratch him for five games and assign him to a conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies for five games or two weeks, Cowan doesn't qualify to play in the AHL. That led Michael Traikos and Jacob Stoller to wonder whether the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Cowan has what it takes to crack the NHL lineup and be one of The Show's newest rookies: There's been much hype for the OHL's most outstanding player, Easton Cowan. But can he make the jump to the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season? For more hockey topics broken down into quick segments, check out The Hockey News Wraparound Show [https://thehockeynews.com/tag/the-wraparound-show] during the rest of the Stanley Cup playoffs and off-season.