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Former London Knights forward Easton Cowan. Photo credit: Natalie Shaver/OHL ImagesFormer London Knights forward Easton Cowan. Photo credit: Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

Ex-London Knight forward Easton Cowan made the Toronto Maple Leafs' opening night roster right out of training camp. However, with veteran Scott Laughton coming back from injury, the 2025 Memorial Cup MVP found himself as the odd man out. 

Despite scoring a goal and three assists in ten games, Cowan had multiple opportunities playing on the wing with Auston Matthews and John Tavares. However, the challenge of having a two-way contract, which allowed him to report to the Toronto Marlies without needing waivers, made it easier for the organization to decide to send him to the AHL.

Was this the right decision?

The Maple Leafs flew through the first month of the season with turbulence. The team finished 5-5-1 in October, but their play was uninspiring and lacked substance. One bright spot was the play of their 2023 first-rounder Cowan, who, despite his demotion, looked like he belonged in the NHL. 

One issue that appears to be hindering Toronto is their lack of speed and talent outside of their star players. As TSN analyst Carlo Colaiacovo said on his radio show First Up, “They are slow and boring.”

So, is sending a player who brings speed and skill to the lineup a smart move for the Maple Leafs?

At the end of the day, Cowan is still only 20 years old. He is going to have a lengthy NHL career, and the Maple Leafs want to ensure that he develops properly. Rushing a player to play in the NHL has proven that it can be detrimental and ruin a player’s development. Additionally, there’s also the factor of ice time. If Cowan isn’t playing in the top six, he is likely to be getting anywhere from 8-11 minutes of playing time a night. That isn’t beneficial for his development. 

After back-to-back OHL championships with the London Knights, which included leading the playoffs in points both years, and winning playoff MVP and regular season MVP in the 2023-24 season, Cowan has had a solid start to his professional career. 

Rest assured, Cowan will most likely be back up with the Maple Leafs at some point this season when injuries and illnesses occur. 

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