The Toronto Maple Leafs were primed to make some sort of moves as a couple of players are ready to come off long-term injured reserve. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan is getting closer to OHL history. The 19-year-old forward had an assist on the London Knights' game-winning goal on Friday night against the Soo Greyhounds., extending his point streak to 45 games, going back to last season. Cowan returned to the Knights on Oct. 7 after struggling to stand out in Maple Leafs training camp. Since rejoining London, the forward has six goals and five assists for 11 points in nine games, playing both center and on the wing. His 45-game point streak is the second-longest in the CHL in the last 20 years, only behind Alexander Radulov, who had points in 50 consecutive games with the Quebec Remparts during the 2005-06 season. Cowan passed Sidney Crosby (37 games in 2004-05) and Connor Bedard (35 games in 2022-23), who were second and third in the rankings. Toronto's 2023 first-round pick (28th overall) has 162 points (61 goals, 101 assists) in 138 games with the Knights, spanning back to Nov. 2021. The forward also has 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 43 playoff games with London. The team went all the way to the Memorial Cup Final last season — after winning the OHL Championship — but fell to the Saginaw Spirit 4-3 on June 2. "I was talking with him a little bit about falling a little short (in the Memorial Cup) and how disappointed he was and stuff like that. Another great opportunity to go back there and try to do it again," Mitch Marner said of Cowan after the young forward was sent back to London in early October. "I'm excited to watch him, excited to see the great things he does this year, and see him grow up and be the leader that he can be." Cowan has represented Team Canada at the 2023 World Juniors, scoring one goal and one assist in five games. He'll likely do the same again — with a larger role within the team — when the tournament gets underway in Ottawa, Ontario in December. The Maple Leafs signed Cowan to a three-year, entry-level contract with an annual average value of $904,667 on Aug. 11, 2023, two months after Toronto picked him in the first round of the NHL Draft. The 5-foot-11 forward has yet to play a game at the NHL level.
