'Get That Line Back Together': Why Easton Cowan, Dakota Joshua Both Move Up Maple Leafs' Lineup

At Monday's practice at home, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a couple of line changes from Saturday's win over the Vancouver Canucks, going into the start of a long homestand with the Utah Mammoth in town on Tuesday.

After Gavin McKenna got a chance on the top line with Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic, he's been moved back down to the third line, where he's spent most of this season. The 18-year-old rookie practised with Colton Sissons and Vinni Lettieri.

As a result, 21-year-old left winger Easton Cowan has been moved back up to the top line from the second line. 

"Well, he's played so well," Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller said about Cowan. "I mean, listen, he made a couple mistakes, everybody makes mistakes. A couple plays that we didn't like in an inopportune time. Eventually, we've got to make some decisions. But we've loved how he's played. Loved how he's progressed. And I'm not worried about him at all responding. And we wanted to get that line back together because it's been so good for us."

"Yeah, it's nice," Cowan said of rejoining Matthews and Roslovic. "I mean, wherever you're playing on this team, I've been saying there's a lot of good hockey players. So I just got to keep playing my game and keep focusing on that.

"Two really good players, like everyone sees. So it's fun playing with them, and I feel like we've got some good chemistry going on."

Also, Dakota Joshua, who made his season debut against the Canucks after a long-term core injury, was bumped up in practice from the third line to the second line, skating with Nick Paul and William Nylander.

The 30-year-old had a solid performance on Saturday. He led the team in shots on goal with five and led the way in hits, as he was credited with seven. 

"He played a strong game," Hiller said of Joshua. "It was the first game in a long time for him. We weren't sure. And we don't want to give him too much, but talk to him. He said the wind was good, the legs were good, so we'll see. Maybe he's going to get a little bit more (against Utah)."

"I can play all over the place, and that's one of my strengths, to have the ability to go up and down the lineup," Joshua said. "So, it's a great opportunity to play with those guys. You just got to be on your toes and be ready. Obviously, (Nylander) can make plays all over the ice. So just trying to help him out and support him, give him space, and then be there when he needs it."

Last season, Joshua played 55 games, missing a chunk of the year with a core muscle injury. In that span, he scored 10 goals and 18 points in what was his first year with the Maple Leafs.

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