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. Easton Cowan has received support from his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates ahead of the 2024 World Juniors in Ottawa, Ontario. The 19-year-old forward is one of 25 players set to represent Team Canada at the tournament, which begins on Boxing Day. Cowan has already impressed, scoring three goals in Canada's first pre-tournament game against Switzerland. On Friday, in conversation with TSN's Mark Masters [https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/video/leafs-prospect-cowan-appreciates-messages-of-support-from-marner-matthews%7e3050123], Cowan admitted that he's received a couple of texts from a few players within the Maple Leafs' organization wishing him luck. "(Mitch) Marner, (Auston) Matthews, and Fraser Mints (Fraser Minten) has been texting me. Danny (Ben Danford), too," Cowan told Masters. "It's been good. They're all showing me support. It means a lot getting texts from them and showing that they're behind me." What did Toronto's captain have to say to the forward ahead of the tournament? "Not much, he just said good luck, score some goals. Obviously, he's had a lot of goals in that rink in his debut there. I was chirping him about that," Cowan said. "He just said do your thing, play your game, and good things will come." Marner knows what it's like to play for Team Canada at the World Juniors. The 27-year-old scored four goals and two assists in five games with Canada at the tournament in 2016. His message was along the same line as Matthews'. "He likes to chirp me here and there," Cowan said. "He's just saying good luck and play your game and do your thing. Just coming from him means a lot." And Minten, who played for Canada alongside Cowan at last year's tournament? "He's just behind us. Wishing me the best of luck. Said play your game, play hard, and leave no regrets." Cowan has been one of the OHL's top players since returning to junior in October. He has 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) in 20 games with London, while also sporting a 56-game point streak, which began on Nov. 25, 2023. There were question marks ahead of training camp about whether Cowan would challenge for a spot on Toronto's roster. While he had a couple of strong games, the forward was pushed out due to the amount of depth within the organization. Cowan was returned to the Knights by the Maple Leafs on Oct. 7. His mindset going back to junior hockey was to continue staying positive. "I'm still 19-years-old. I'm still a kid, learning the ways of life and it's probably a good thing I got an extra year of junior and learn how to cook more and get my mom to help me to cook. My billet mom, too," Cowan told Masters with a smile. "Obviously, it sucked. You want to make the team, but it's the right thing for my development."
