Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has his eyes peeled for the NHL next season. The 20-year-old has won almost everything in his junior career, from the OHL regular season and playoffs MVP and the league's title to the Memorial Cup and that tournament's MVP honors. Following the London Knights' Memorial Cup win, Cowan joined Leafs Morning Take [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8AC0MuadnU] with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill to discuss his final year in junior and what's next. "It's finally starting to sink in right around now," said Cowan when asked about the Memorial Cup win. "Just an unreal feeling bringing it home to London. It's just been great to spend these last couple of days with the guys, and just really enjoy our time together and celebrate the Memorial Cup." One year ago, Cowan and the Knights were left licking their wounds following a 4-3 loss [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-prospect-easton-cowan-and-london-knights-fall-short-in-heartbreaking-memorial-cup-final-to-saginaw-spirit] to the host Saginaw Spirit in the tournament final. However, with the type of talent London has, they knew it'd be possible to make it back if all of their players returned. "Obviously, last year sucked and it was unfortunate, but I felt like all the guys and I just really focused on that this summer, to keep getting better. We all stay in touch. We're a super close group," Cowan said. "And to be able to get back in the finals, that's what we wanted, and (Sam) O'Reilly said it at the beginning of the year, our goal is to win the last game, and that's what we did, so just super proud of this group." Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Dominates Memorial Cup, Validates Return To Junior Decision [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2d4e1bb5-942c-4188-bf51-cd991e588768.webp] Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Dominates Memorial Cup, Validates Return To Junior Decision Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan is a Memorial Cup champion with the OHL's London Knights. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-prospect-easton-cowan-dominates-memorial-cup-validates-return-to-junior-decision] Following a season with a historic point streak and 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 17 playoff games, Cowan now has his eyes set on pro hockey. Last fall, he was one of the final cuts from Maple Leafs training camp [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/breaking-news/maple-leafs-cut-27-players-from-training-camp-sent-to-ahl-marlies], and after another huge year, he's looking to come into 2025's camp with the NHL on his mind. "Every kid in my situation would probably say [the goal is] to make the NHL, and that's definitely my goal," Cowan said. "I mean, I feel like I'm capable of doing that. I just got to keep getting bigger, keep getting faster, and keep getting stronger. It's just in my hands. I feel like I'm smart enough and able to play, but obviously, I got to get bigger and that's just in my hands. I'll take advantage of that this summer training in London, training a bit in Toronto too. It'll help me out a lot and I'm just super excited for camp, and I'll be ready for it for sure." What's the message from the Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/never-take-anything-for-granted-maple-leafs-prospect-easton-cowan-reflects-on-marner-s-mentorship-another-shot-at-memorial-cup] after two straight Memorial Cup Finals? Relax a bit before getting into summer training. "Everyone texted me [after the Memorial Cup win]," Cowan smiled. "They want me to just relax now. Enjoy the time. Have some fun. And just get away from the game. It's been good for me. I mean, I've went on three long runs here with London, so just to be able to put the hockey sticks away, pull out the golf clubs, go to some patios with some friends, and just really enjoy my time, and get some food with people I haven't saw in a while, it's been huge. "Just enjoying my time here for sure." Maple Leafs Invite Knights Goaltender Austin Elliott To Training Camp After Memorial Cup Title [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/4a23fad8-728c-41fa-ac2e-fa380b300b98.webp] Maple Leafs Invite Knights Goaltender Austin Elliott To Training Camp After Memorial Cup Title London Knights goaltender Austin Elliott has a ticket to an NHL training camp this fall. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-invite-knights-goaltender-austin-elliott-to-training-camp-after-memorial-cup-title] When it comes to training camp in the fall, there could be a few spots in the Maple Leafs' top-six open for Cowan, especially if Mitch Marner, who's on the precipice of NHL free agency [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-and-golden-knights-discussed-trade-around-mitch-marner-shea-theodore-last-summer], leaves Toronto on July 1. While Marner's place could be up for grabs, there's also a spot on the second line's left wing, after several players played there in the postseason. Cowan, who's dealt with the spotlight in the OHL's top market [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/there-s-pressure-anywhere-you-play-maple-leafs-dismiss-notion-that-toronto-market-is-to-blame-for-playoff-failures] of London, believes he's ready to play under the bright lights in Toronto. 'A Big Part Of The Future Moving Forward': Why Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Is Confident In Re-Signing RFA Matthew Knies [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2018e682-d796-4e93-9638-9b0c1ea797be.jpeg] 'A Big Part Of The Future Moving Forward': Why Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Is Confident In Re-Signing RFA Matthew Knies Nine days after Matthew Knies admitted his desire to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs beyond this season, Toronto general manager Brad Treliving said the same. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/a-big-part-of-the-future-moving-forward-why-maple-leafs-gm-brad-treliving-is-confident-in-re-signing-rfa-matthew-knies] "I mean, ever since I got drafted here, I said London's kind of like the Toronto of the OHL. A lot of people love you, and then there's a lot of people who hate you. It's been good for me to kind of get that under my belt, the experience here, and I'll just keep doing my thing," he said. "I know people are going to love me or people are going to hate me, and that's just how the world is these days, so I'll just keep doing my thing, and that's playing hockey and keep getting better and keep working hard." One area of Cowan's game that Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube mentioned needed improvement was his puck management [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/he-needs-to-show-us-that-he-doesnt-have-all-the-junior-habits-anymore-easton-cowans-chances-at-maple-leafs-camp-will-come-down-to-details]. "A lot of players coming out of junior hockey, they still have the junior habits," said Berube. "And he needs to show us that he doesn’t have all the junior habits anymore." 'If I Can Win The Masters, Leafs Can Win The Stanley Cup': Rory McIlroy Gifted Toronto Jersey By MLSE CEO Keith Pelley [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5a56efdb-fb65-4c26-8207-af8aad76f0fa.webp] 'If I Can Win The Masters, Leafs Can Win The Stanley Cup': Rory McIlroy Gifted Toronto Jersey By MLSE CEO Keith Pelley Professional golfer Rory McIlroy still believes the Toronto Maple Leafs can win the Stanley Cup. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/if-i-can-win-the-masters-leafs-can-win-the-stanley-cup-rory-mcilroy-gifted-toronto-jersey-by-mlse-ceo-keith-pelley] The forward returned to junior in the final days of Toronto's training camp, and several months later, agreed that the decision to loan him back [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/he-needs-to-show-us-that-he-doesnt-have-all-the-junior-habits-anymore-easton-cowans-chances-at-maple-leafs-camp-will-come-down-to-details] to the Knights was correct. "My 200-foot game for sure has gotten better. I find I've been managing the puck so much better. That's what I wanted to work on this year too, and it was good for me to come back to the OHL, have another year, and keep developing," he said. "Now I know when to take a risk and when not to, and I feel like I'm a very reliable player, can play both ends of the ice, and I'm a guy that, I want to be out there in the last minute, whether we're up a goal or down a goal, so I feel like I learned that a lot this year." 'He's Got A Say In The Process': Where Do Things Stand Between Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving and Mitch Marner? [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/74f2a7d1-d08f-45a8-8702-626f1083da24.jpeg] 'He's Got A Say In The Process': Where Do Things Stand Between Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving and Mitch Marner? Mitch Marner's future with the Toronto Maple Leafs still remains up in the air. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/he-s-got-a-say-in-the-process-where-do-things-stand-between-maple-leafs-gm-brad-treliving-and-mitch-marner] Cowan admitted his goal is to make the Maple Leafs out of camp, and he will need to prove it when he arrives in Toronto in the fall. "I know I'm smart enough to play, so just being able to manage the puck well during camp will be huge for me. I know I kill penalties and I know I can play on the power play or five-on-five, four-on-four, so just being able to play in any situation will be huge for me, and just play simple," he said. "You're not going to be able to beat guys wide every time or go through the stick. It's the NHL, and it's definitely a huge jump, and I'll be ready for camp for sure." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwytvfCA?ceid=CA:en&oc=3] to never miss a story.
