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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Leafs prospect Easton Cowan isn't about to replace Mitch Marner, but he has the DNA the team is looking for
Easton Cowan has accomplished pretty much everything a player can in junior hockey. The top Maple Leafs prospect went out a champion, named the most valuable player in the Memorial Cup after leading the London Knights over the Medicine Hat Tigers in Sunday's final . The question for Cowan isn't so much what's next, but what's the limit? 'If he continues to play with the same tenacity and puck-hounding ability, mixed with his puck skills and playmaking ability, he will be a productive NHL player,' said Frankie Corrado, the former Leafs defenceman who is now an analyst with TSN. 'Will he make the team next year? Depends on his camp. 'If he doesn't make the team out of camp, it should not be seen as a failure in any way, shape or form. He's a really good player with a hunger on the ice. It's only a matter of time until he is there and playing well.' Cowan is the epitome of a late-blooming junior player , a tenacious skater who went under the radar as a second-round pick in the OHL draft in 2021 and who was an eyebrow-raising first-round selection in the NHL draft two years later. The pick may well pay off. Cowan, from Mount Brydges, Ont., has twice represented Canada at the world junior championship. He was the first OHL player with a point in 60 straight games, though it's not an official record because it was set over two seasons. Former Leafs star Doug Gilmour holds the single-season record at 55 games, set with the Cornwall Royals in 1982-83. Nicknamed Cowboy, Cowan finished his junior career in London with 220 points (84 goals, 136 assists) in 175 games. More importantly for a team looking for someone who can rise to the occasion, he had 32 goals and 64 assists in 60 playoff games. He led the OHL playoffs in points in each of the last two post-seasons. He led the Memorial Cup tournament in points last year, and was the co-leader this year. In doing so, he tied Mitch Marner's Knights record of 15 points in Memorial Cup play. Cowan will come to Leafs camp at an intriguing time. There could well be an opening at right wing. Marner might leave as a free agent. The Leafs might also decide to cut bait with Nick Robertson. So there may be an opportunity for a prospect to push through. Having traded Cowan's friend, Fraser Minten, the Leafs aren't particularly deep with prospects at forward. Alex Steeves is generally believed to be their top minor-league prospect, but he could leave as an unrestricted free agent. Jacob Quillan, who scored 18 goals as a rookie with the Marlies, might get a long look. Cowan invigorated Leafs camp in 2023 when he was the last cut. He was only so-so at the 2024 camp, though the team said at the time his overall game was better even if the eye-popping plays were fewer. Those that have watched Cowan play, and watched other junior stars try to make the leap to the NHL, offer some caution. 'He's not ready for prime time next year,' TSN junior hockey analyst Craig Button said. 'Might even need some time in the AHL. But he'll grow and get better with time.' It would be unfair to cast Cowan as a possible replacement for Marner, if the star winger indeed leaves. And he's got a different set of strengths. Cowan plays a bit more like Nazem Kadri, his favourite Leaf as a kid. He's more of a physical player and can be tenacious in pursuing the puck. He's a playmaker as well, with a decent shot. 'He's a great competitor, and edgy,' Button said. 'If (Leafs GM) Brad (Treliving) wants to change the DNA of the Leafs, get players like Easton.' Cowan was five-foot-11, 170 pounds when the Leafs drafted him. He has gained an inch and 15 pounds. 'The thing that will serve him well is that even if he's not necessarily putting up points, he will bring something else to the table,' Corrado said. 'He has a B game that will serve him well.'
National Post
3 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Maple Leafs need to keep Easton Cowan and give him a legitimate shot
If Brad Treliving feels the urge to include Easton Cowan in a trade this summer, the Maple Leafs general manager should resist it. Article content Article content Strongly. The Leafs have to have some sort of hope for the future in regard to their prospects at forward, don't they? Article content The cold reality is that Cowan, fresh off being named the most valuable player in the 2025 Memorial Cup after the London Knights beat the Medicine Hat Tigers in the final in Rimouski, Que., on Sunday night, stands alone in Toronto's prospect pool. Article content The date of March 7 was pivotal for the Leafs as it related to its group of youngsters who could one day play in the National Hockey League. Article content At the trade deadline, Treliving included centre Fraser Minten in a swap with the Boston Bruins to get defenceman Brandon Carlo and, when he acquired forward Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers, winger Nikita Grebenkin was part of the package that went to Philly. Article content Article content With Minten and Grebenkin gone, there's quite a drop from Cowan to the next forwards who the Leafs might look to one day to make an impact. Article content But as for the group that includes Jacob Quillan, Miroslav Holinka, Nick Moldenhauer, Joe Miller and Roni Hirvonen, it might be a stretch to assume that any of them will one day become full-time Leafs. It's too early to say what Luke Haymes and Ryan Kirwan, both signed out of college this past year, could eventually provide. Article content Cowan easily is the best of the bunch. What kind of NHL player the 20-year-old eventually develops into is to be determined, yet how can there not be a solid foundation of optimism for someone who has been dominant in the past two Ontario Hockey League seasons? Article content Article content At his end-of-season media availability last week, Treliving made the comment that 'champions have the ability to be calm and at their very best when it matters the most.' Article content Article content It was in reference to the Florida Panthers and Treliving acknowledged that the Leafs have to find improvement in that regard (no kidding). Article content The gap between major junior hockey to the NHL undoubtedly is significant. Still, the fact that Cowan, with the Knights, fits Treliving's champion thoughts to a T has to be a source of encouragement for the organization as a whole. Article content This year, Cowan led the OHL in playoff scoring, leading London to a five-game win against the Oshawa Generals in the final, and led the Memorial Cup in scoring on the way to being named tournament MVP.
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Maple Leafs need to keep Easton Cowan and give him a legitimate shot
If other NHL teams ask for top prospect in a trade this summer, general manager Brad Treliving should resist. Get the latest from Terry Koshan straight to your inbox Montreal Canadiens' Jayden Struble (47) checks Toronto Maple Leafs' Easton Cowan (53) during pre-season last year. The Canadian Press If Brad Treliving feels the urge to include Easton Cowan in a trade this summer, the Maple Leafs general manager should resist it. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Strongly. The Leafs have to have some sort of hope for the future in regard to their prospects at forward, don't they? The cold reality is that Cowan, fresh off being named the most valuable player in the 2025 Memorial Cup after the London Knights beat the Medicine Hat Tigers in the final in Rimouski, Que., on Sunday night, stands alone in Toronto's prospect pool. The date of March 7 was pivotal for the Leafs as it related to its group of youngsters who could one day play in the National Hockey League. At the trade deadline, Treliving included centre Fraser Minten in a swap with the Boston Bruins to get defenceman Brandon Carlo and, when he acquired forward Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers, winger Nikita Grebenkin was part of the package that went to Philly. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. With Minten and Grebenkin gone, there's quite a drop from Cowan to the next forwards who the Leafs might look to one day to make an impact. But as for the group that includes Jacob Quillan, Miroslav Holinka, Nick Moldenhauer, Joe Miller and Roni Hirvonen, it might be a stretch to assume that any of them will one day become full-time Leafs. It's too early to say what Luke Haymes and Ryan Kirwan, both signed out of college this past year, could eventually provide. Cowan easily is the best of the bunch. What kind of NHL player the 20-year-old eventually develops into is to be determined, yet how can there not be a solid foundation of optimism for someone who has been dominant in the past two Ontario Hockey League seasons? At his end-of-season media availability last week, Treliving made the comment that 'champions have the ability to be calm and at their very best when it matters the most.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It was in reference to the Florida Panthers and Treliving acknowledged that the Leafs have to find improvement in that regard (no kidding). The gap between major junior hockey to the NHL undoubtedly is significant. Still, the fact that Cowan, with the Knights, fits Treliving's champion thoughts to a T has to be a source of encouragement for the organization as a whole. A year ago, Cowan was named the OHL playoffs MVP and then led the Memorial Cup in scoring, though London lost in the Cup final against the host Saginaw Spirit. This year, Cowan led the OHL in playoff scoring, leading London to a five-game win against the Oshawa Generals in the final, and led the Memorial Cup in scoring on the way to being named tournament MVP. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. With what Cowan has accomplished, there has been a comparison made to what Mitch Marner did with the Knights in the mid-2010s. Nine years ago, Marner was named the Memorial Cup MVP after London won the 2016 event in Red Deer, Alta., with an overtime victory against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. That was after Marner led the OHL playoffs in scoring as London went 16-2 in the post-season, sweeping Niagara in the final. The difference — and it's not a small one — is that Marner did what he did a year ahead of Cowan. Marner turned 19 during the 2015 OHL playoffs. Cowan had his 20th birthday on May 20, three days before the Memorial Cup started. Marner's future isn't known, but that's only because no one can say with certainty where he will sign on July 1. What seems to be accepted, though we suppose that no door should be completely shut, is that it won't be with Toronto. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As of now, the Leafs don't have a first-round pick in each of the next three years. It's true that to help fill the void that would result in Marner's departure, free agency alone won't get it done. Treliving is going to have to leave no stone unturned when investigating potential trades. And it's also true that, outside of Cowan and Matthew Knies, there aren't many young forwards (apologies to Nick Robertson) that other teams might insist to include in a trade. Read More Obviously, including Knies in a deal is not an option. Similar thinking should apply to Cowan. Once the Leafs get through training camp and the pre-season in September and October, they should have a firm idea of where Cowan slots into the lineup. He has the potential to one day be a difference-maker in the NHL. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. At the least, Cowan should get that opportunity with Toronto. SELKE SUPPORT Marner and Leafs captain Auston Matthews got some Selke Trophy love, following the pattern that has played out in the past several years. The Panthers' Aleksander Barkov was announced as the winner on Monday of the Selke, awarded to the best defensive forward in the NHL, finishing ahead of teammate Sam Reinhart and the Tampa Bay Lightning's Anthony Cirelli. Marner was seventh in voting by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, marking his third top-10 finish in five years. Marner came closest to winning the Selke in 2022-23 when he was third in voting. Matthews was 14th in voting, marking the fourth time in four years he has finished in the top 15. In 2023-24, Matthews was third in voting for his best placing to date. tkoshan@ X: @koshtorontosun Olympics Toronto Maple Leafs News Sunshine Girls Celebrity
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
London Knights celebrate 3rd Memorial Cup win
The London Knights are Memorial Cup champions for a third time beating their opponents in a 4-1 victory Sunday night in Rimouski, Que. The team won against the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Canadian Major Junior championship game with Easton Cowan becoming the first player since 1972 to lead the tournament in scoring in consecutive years. Cowan, who scored seven goals, was named MVP for the series. The Knights won the Memorial Cup in 2005 and 2016. They came close in 2024, losing by one point to the Saginaw Spirit. Cowan is currently a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and is tied with Leafs right-winger Mitch Marner for the most Memorial Cup points in franchise history. London poured it on with three goals in the second period Sunday to take a commanding lead. London and Medicine Hat dominated their respective leagues en route to the Memorial Cup. At the moment, The Knights have 12 NHL draft picks.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Knights capture third Memorial Cup title with dominant 4-1 win over Tigers
London Knights' Easton Cowan (7) scores on Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Harrison Meneghin (35) while Oasiz Wiesblatt (7) defends during second period Memorial Cup final hockey action, in Rimouski, Que., on Sunday, June 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov RIMOUSKI — The London Knights are Memorial Cup champions for a third time. Denver Barkey scored twice, Sam Dickinson had three assists and Austin Elliott made 31 saves in a dominant 4-1 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers in the championship game Sunday. Jacob Julien and Easton Cowan also scored for London, which also won in 2005 and 2016. Cowan, with seven points, became the first player since 1972 to lead the tournament in scoring for consecutive years. Barkey also had seven this year. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect also tied Mitch Marner for the most Memorial Cup points in franchise history with 15 in nine games. The back-to-back Ontario Hockey League champions redeemed last year's heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the Saginaw Spirit in the final. The Spirit scored with 22 seconds remaining to win the trophy on home ice. Gavin McKenna — the projected top choice in next year's NHL draft — replied for Medicine Hat, which defeated the Knights 3-1 in round robin play to qualify directly for the final and earn four days off. Harrison Meneghin stopped 20 shots for the Western Hockey League champions at Colisée Financière Sun Life. A WHL team hasn't won the Memorial Cup since the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2014. The Knights defeated the Moncton Wildcats, who the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, 5-2 in Friday's semifinal. The Rimouski Oceanic also played in the tournament as hosts, but lost all three games. London poured it on with three goals in the second period Sunday to take a commanding lead. After Elliott turned away a flurry of shots — including a tricky deflection from Cayden Lindstrom — Cowan buried his third of the tournament to make it 2-0 at 3:13. Cowan left the puck for Sam O'Reilly in the corner before circling the zone and finding an opening in front. Barkey added to the lead 1:40 later, capitalizing on a breakaway after Dickinson forced Tigers captain Oasiz Wiesblatt into a turnover at the blue line. Cowan appeared to make it 4-0 with his second of the night, but the officials ruled no-goal after O'Reilly interfered with Meneghin on a drive to the net. Barkey then scored his second of the night with a wrist shot from the left circle off the post and in past a screened Meneghin at 12:08. The Tigers peppered Elliott with shots on an ensuing power play. Bryce Pickford nearly scored but shot wide with the Knights netminder sprawling in the crease. McKenna finally broke Elliott's shutout bid by cutting into the slot and converting a wrist shot glove side 2:43 into the third period for his third goal in four games. The star winger was at it again with 5:21 remaining, beating Elliott with a slick shot into the top left corner. The goal, however, was called off following a review due to Ryder Ritchie's high stick earlier in the play. Medicine Hat pulled the goalie for an extra attacker with 3:50 left and held the puck in London's zone for much of the remaining time. The Knights held off the pressure before pouring out of the bench in celebration. The Tigers came out with energy in the first period, piling up nine shots in the first five minutes. Jonas Woo's shot snuck under Elliott's arm but hit the side of the net. London weathered the storm and responded with pressure of their own. Dickinson missed a chance in front after a give-and-go with Barkey. Julien broke through with the opener 11:21 into the first period when Henry Brzustewicz found him up the middle. The Knights forward beat Meneghin to the backhand for his second of the tournament. Ethan Neutens nearly got Medicine Hat on the board with 42 seconds remaining in the period, but ripped his shot from the right circle off the crossbar. London and Medicine Hat dominated their respective leagues en route to the Memorial Cup. The Knights — a team loaded with 12 NHL draft picks — went 55-11-2 in the regular season and lost only once in the playoffs. The Tigers, meanwhile, lost twice in the post-season after a 47-17-4 campaign. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025. Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
