Shane Doan becomes an assistant to Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving as the club shores up its deep ties to Arizona. Will that be enough to extend Auston Matthews? Easton Cowan stepped off the ice after day one of Maple Leafs development camp in Toronto and was still in awe after being drafted by the team he grew up watching as a kid. "That blue, I really like the color," he said with a smile, recounting what it was like to put on the jersey. The 18-year-old, born in Mount Brydges, Ontario was picked earlier than some might have thought in the 2023 NHL Draft. However, when Cowan stepped up to speak with reporters, you might have thought he was a little bit older. [gallery ids="4530,4528,4387"] His face is young, but his maturity is what you might see in someone who's a bit older. "I think I'm a 200-foot player. I like to hound pucks," said Cowan, describing the type of player he is. "I like to use my skating ability and my hockey sense to create plays along the ice, and I like to lead on the ice and off the ice by example." In his rookie season with the OHL's London Knights, Cowan got off to a slow start. The 18-year-old had only 23 points in the first 34 games of the season, though he had a strong 30 points in the final 34 games of the year. That strong finish led to Cowan appearing in 20 of London's 21 playoff games for the Knights, where he put up an impressive nine goals and 12 assists in that span. From his vantage point, what was attributed to all of that success? "My confidence just kept getting better," said Cowan. "You learn to play defense, and then, if you have a good defense, it will lead to offensive chances. So, I felt like my coaches gained trust in me and I kind of took that opportunity and ran away with it." All of that progress led to the 18-year-old being picked by the Maple Leafs in the first round of the NHL draft. Something he won't forget. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV1XiQTSxaQ[/embed] But it was after being drafted that he had a moment that he says he'd remember forever. He received texts. A lot of them. Some from people you might know. "Yeah," he said with a smile, before listing off the names. "Morgan Rielly, John Tavares, Nazem Kadri, and then Mitch Marner Facetimed me. So, lots of great players and obviously they're a bunch of great leaders, so I look up to that." Both Marner and Kadri played for the Knights before being drafted by the Maple Leafs, like Cowan. But it's Kadri, who the 18-year-old tries to remodel his game after. "He's someone I look up to," Cowan said. "I also try to play like him. I thought the text he sent was pretty funny and it's something I won't forget ever." This situation is a first for Cowan. Being drafted to the NHL, going to a development camp, all of it. But the 18-year-old isn't interested in letting it fly by. "Each and every day, take it slow, by the ice session, by the stuff you're learning." He said. "I really want to get better, that's my goal, get bigger, get stronger, and faster for next year." Cowan's first name, which is Easton, isn't an ordinary name you'd hear. That's because his parents, Chris and Heather, named him after the hockey equipment company, 'Easton.' "It's pretty cool," the 18-year-old said. "My parents named me after that and I love the game. So, it's pretty cool my name's Easton." Once the interview ended and the cameras went down, Cowan was asked if he was sponsored by the hockey equipment company, 'Easton.' "I'm a CCM guy," he said with a grin as he walked off. Related Was Playing in Toronto ‘A Lot’ For Former Maple Leafs’ Forward Ryan O’Reilly? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/.preview/cn02c3601990002711?auth=1688514304:54352b096acc3e79861bd2a7534b0890afeeed13&nonce=1688427903767] Report: Contract Negotiations Between Maple Leafs and William Nylander 'Not Going Well' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/report-contract-negotiations-between-maple-leafs-and-william-nylander-not-going-well] 'This Isn't a Legacy Signing', Why the Maple Leafs Signed Max Domi [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/.preview/cn02c35d28100027d4?auth=1688508078:2c1d234b5a523d8e4961988389ec0adad4025378&nonce=1688421678198]
