The Toronto Maple Leafs are making a captaincy change. The Hockey News breaks down why Auston Matthews will become the 26th captain in franchise history. Easton Cowan is the lone Maple Leafs prospect at the NHLPA's Rookie Showcase in Washington, D.C. this week. The 19-year-old is one of 35 rookies from around the NHL who are attending the showcase, which is taking place at the Washington Capitals' practice facility in Arlington, Virginia. The event, which is in its 14th year, allows Upper Deck to capture content for the players' first NHL and NHLPA-licensed rookie trading cards, plus other promotional materials throughout the upcoming season. Matthew Knies was Toronto's representative at the event last year. Timothy Liljegren and former Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott attended in 2018. Toronto selected Cowan in the first round (28th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Originally thought as a reach, the forward has made history, breaking the London Knights' point streak record and winning the Red Tilson Trophy (OHL MVP) this past season. He scored 34 goals and 62 assists for 96 points in 54 regular season games. The winger then had 18 goals and 10 assists for 24 points in 18 playoff games with the Knights. Cowan has made it his goal to make the Maple Leafs out of training camp, which is set to begin in a few weeks. He and Minten are two of Toronto's prospects who have the best chance of making the NHL squad ahead of their season opener in October. "I want to make the team. That's always been my goal," Cowan said in July at Maple Leafs development camp. "I want to play in the NHL one day, and I'm feeling very confident, so I've just got to come into camp, be a very reliable player, someone the coach can trust. I've just got to learn game management a bit better, and I think I'll be good." Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Appears in New Hockey Stick Commercial [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-auston-matthews-appears-in-new-hockey-stick-commercial] Report: Recent Stanley Cup Winner Steven Lorentz to Join Maple Leafs on Professional Tryout (PTO) Ahead of Training Camp [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-recent-stanley-cup-winner-steven-lorentz-to-join-maple-leafs-on-professional-tryout-pto-ahead-of-training-camp] Maple Leafs 'Have Some Interest' in Free Agent Forward Max Pacioretty [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-have-some-interest-in-free-agent-max-pacioretty] News from THN.com Opinion: Bruins Fans Should Feel Fortunate GM Sweeney Is On Case In Swayman Contract Saga [https://thehockeynews.com/news/opinion-the-bruins-should-feel-fortunate-gm-sweeney-is-handling-swaymans-contract-saga] The Wraparound Show: Remembering Johnny Gaudreau [https://thehockeynews.com/podcast/the-wraparound-show-remembering-johnny-gaudreau] NHL Expansion: Kansas City, Cincinnati and Omaha Long Shots To Land a Team [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-expansion-kansas-city-cincinnati-and-omaha-long-shots-to-land-a-team]
