'He's Exceeded My Expectations': How Maple Leafs' Easton Cowan Has Transcended Into A New Level In The NHL

Easton Cowan had another statement game for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday in their 6-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The 21-year-old left winger had a three-point night and a plus-three rating for the Leafs, all while playing just 13:38 of ice time. He scored his first career shorthanded goal, giving Toronto a 4-1 lead in the second period.

"Yeah, I had a decent shot there," Cowan said of his goal post-game. "I think the goalie was favoring (William Nylander), which I probably would too. So, yeah, I just picked my spot."

Cowan also added a pair of assists - one coming before and after his shorthanded goal - proving to be a fit on the top line next to Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic, who both scored off a helper from Cowan.

Following Tuesday's performance, Cowan now has four goals and 10 points in 11 games, putting him on pace for an impressive campaign in terms of his production.

But beyond his ability to score, he's been a two-way presence and an effective forechecker for the Maple Leafs. And with that, he's caught the eye of his teammates and coach.

"I can't say enough good things about him," head coach Jim Hiller said of Cowan. "Honestly, he's exceeded my expectations, and I had high expectations for him. And I've told you, he told me this is what he was going to do, and so he's living up to his end of the bargain. Now he's a regular penalty killer, and yeah, he's a good player, and he's going to have a great career.

"It's hard to fulfill those expectations this early, especially some of the stuff with his game that he had to change a little bit. But he's done it. He's done it so far."

Coming out of the OHL with the London Knights, the understanding was that Cowan was someone who could put up points (scoring 39 points in 17 games in his final OHL playoff campaign). But underneath that is his work ethic and ability to hunt down pucks and be a two-way player, which makes him even more effective at the NHL level.

"He quietly has a work ethic that you don't really see," defenseman Marshall Rifai said. "I think he got to go home over the summer, and it was evident when he got back to camp. He's taking a step. He's more confident. He's quicker, more assertive. He's a really nice player we have. So I'm happy for him, and he scored a beautiful goal."

"I think it's just the physical maturity and understanding how the NHL works," Hiller explained, as the biggest change for Cowan over the past year. "It's one thing how Jr. works. It's one thing how college works. It's one thing how the American League works. How does the NHL work? And he kind of got to understand that. And I think he's gotten there."

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.