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. Easton Cowan is three more games away from making history. With two goals on Wednesday against the Soo Greyhounds, the 19-year-old forward extended his point streak to 47 games, inching closer to the CHL's longest point streak in the last 20 years. That record is held by Alexander Radulov, who had points in 50 consecutive games with the Quebec Remparts during the 2005-06 season. Cowan needs points in three straight — against North Bay, Guelph, and Sarnia — to tie that record. But it's not the only feat in sight. If Cowan can score points in the next eight games in a row, he'll tie former Maple Leafs captain Doug Gilmour's OHL record of 55 consecutive games with a point, set with the OHL's Cornwall Royals in 1982-83. The forward passed Sidney Crosby (37 games in 2004-05) and Connor Bedard (35 games in 2022-23), who had the second and third-longest point streaks in the CHL in the last 20 years. Since being returned to London by the Maple Leafs in early October after training camp, Cowan has scored nine goals and five assists in 11 games, the second-most points on the Knights behind San Jose Sharks first-round pick Sam Dickinson. The Maple Leafs selected Cowan in the first round (28th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. He signed his entry-level contract with Toronto on Aug. 11, 2023, with an annual average value of $904,667. Cowan 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 on the team — when the tournament gets underway in Ottawa, Ontario in December. The Mount Brydges, Ontario-born player has 165 points (64 goals and 101 assists) in 140 games with the Knights. He also has 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 43 playoff games with London. The OHL champion Knights went to the Memorial Cup Final last season but fell to the Saginaw Spirit 4-3 on June 2. Cowan and London's team hope to return to the tournament this spring and win everything.
