A deep dive into 2024 NHL Draft prospect and Spokane Chiefs' goaltender Dawson Cowan.

The WHL is set to play a significant role in this year's 2024 NHL Draft. 57 players were included on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, with a handful expected to be drafted in the first round. Today's draft profile is of Spokane Chiefs' Dawson Cowan, who enters the draft as the 5th-ranked North American Goaltender.

One of the top goaltenders available in this year's draft is Cowan. Listed at 6'1", 186 pounds, Cowan became Spokane's full-time starter midway through the season and led them to a playoff spot for the first time since 2022. Cowan was also invited to this year's Top Prospects Game, stopping 16 of the 17 shots he faced for Team Red and putting on a show in front of NHL scouts and GMs from across the league. 

Cowan's game revolves around speed and his ability to drop into the butterfly. He is very good at closing off the bottom of the net and can move from post to post with ease. Cowan also showed that he can make highlight reel saves on the regular, often sliding across his crease to deny one-timers. 

One area of Cowan's game that stands out is his ability to protect the post. He rarely allows pucks to squeak past him and is able to protect against wraparound, thanks to his ability to hug the post. This is one skill that should translate well to the NHL, as he understands where his posts are and uses them to his advantage. 

While Cowan has traits that NHL teams look for in goaltenders, he still has a ways to go in his development. This includes working on his overall rebound control and high glove/blocker saves. With the Chiefs expected to take another step forward in 2024-25, this should help his overall development as, hopefully, it will be less chaotic in front of his crease. 

Projecting where goaltenders are going to be drafted is never an easy task. That being said, Cowan should hear his name called at the draft, with the most likely place being between the fourth and sixth rounds. With the correct development, he has the potential to be a solid goaltender at the pro level.

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