Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable
'Play My Game, Play Simple': Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube Encouraging Easton Cowan Ahead of First Pre-Season Game Against Senators
Cowan made it to the Maple Leafs' last round of cuts during training camp last year.
Minutes before Easton Cowan stepped off the ice ahead of his first game of the preseason, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube pulled him aside to have a chat.
Cowan is in his second NHL training camp with the Maple Leafs after being drafted by the club 28th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. The forward began camp this year playing alongside Jacob Quillan and Alex Nylander, and will likely remain alongside Quillan on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators.
This is a chance for Cowan to showcase himself in game action after a few days of skates with Toronto. And given his experience with a training camp last season, this will be another opportunity to prove he's ready for the next level.
"Yeah, obviously a bit of experience for me helps, last year, playing in Toronto," Cowan said. "It was a great atmosphere last year, and just a moment I'll never forget. I'm excited for tonight."
It's likely the 19-year-old plays alongside Quillan — whom he's already skated with — and Ryan Reaves with how the lines have been put together over the last couple of days.
Before leaving the ice on Sunday morning, Cowan and Berube had a discussion that was mainly pushing the young forward to have a strong game with the team that night.
"He's just saying play my game, play simple. Get pucks out, play north and just play my game and good things will come. So I'm really excited for tonight."
During the team's media day on Wednesday, Berube was questioned about Cowan and what he needs to do to make the Maple Leafs out of training camp. The coach admitted that the young forward needs to prove that the "junior habits" are eliminated from his game.
What are those junior habits that Cowan needs to eradicate from his game?
"Just stops and starts. I got to be good on those tonight. A little chip out, obviously, not a lot of space out there. So just simplifying my game a bit will help me a lot."
Toronto takes on the Senators in their first preseason game on Sunday evening inside Scotiabank Arena. Puck drop for the game is set for just after 7:00 p.m. ET.
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