With David Kampf set to come off long-term injured reserve, Fraser Minten will return to the AHL after an impressive showing with the Leafs. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan is getting off to a hot start with Team Canada ahead of the World Juniors, which begins on Boxing Day. The 19-year-old scored a hat-trick in Canada's opening pre-tournament game on Thursday against Switzerland. Cowan scored his country's fourth goal of the first period, after a nice passing play between himself, Calum Ritchie, and Bradly Nadeau. After no goals in the second period, Canada continued the offensive onslaught against Switzerland in the final frame. Cowan, set up again by Ritchie, used his patience with the pick before finding an open lane to shoot through. The forward's shot makes it through several bodies before beating Switzerland goaltender Christian Kirsch for his second goal of the game. Cowan secured the hat-trick on the power play with less than seven minutes left in the third period. Following some nice passing from Canada, the forward blasted home a one-timer, putting the team up 7-1 over the Swiss. Cowan finished the game with the most points of any player on Canada. He's coming off a strong start to the season with the OHL's London Knights. His 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) in 20 games with London is the fourth-most among players on the team this season. Toronto's first-round (28th overall) pick in the 2023 NHL Draft unofficially broke the OHL's point streak record on Dec. 6, registering a point in 56 straight games, which spans back to Nov. 25, 2023. The Mount Brydges, Ontario-born player's point streak won't be officially registered as the new OHL record as the streak spans two seasons. Doug Gilmour's 55-game point streak with the Cornwall Royals during the 1982-83 season is the current record. Cowan could technically break the record this season if he gets into most of the games with London after the World Juniors, which concludes on Jan. 5, 2025. The forward is currently on a 20-game point streak this season. During his unofficial 56-game point streak, Cowan has 94 points (38 goals, 56 assists).
