Easton Cowan has been a bit of an enigma for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. If you followed his junior career, you’d know he was practically a one-man band, carrying his team on his back with huge performances game after game.
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But fast forward to the NHL, and it feels like he’s been stuck in neutral. Despite that, there’s a ton of upside with Cowan. Is he a bust so far, or should the Maple Leafs explore how they can better utilize him?
Cowan’s Situation So Far with the Maple Leafs
Cowan’s rookie season has been a mix of steady progress and untapped potential. His seven goals and 10 assists in 43 games don’t scream “breakout” or “sure fit,” but they show a youngster who’s holding his own despite limited minutes and lots of time in the press box. He creates chances, shoots at a respectable clip, and even carries a plus-2 rating, which says he’s not hurting the team defensively.
The problem isn’t his play. It’s the role he’s stuck in. With only about 13 minutes a night and no real push into a scoring spot, he’s been boxed in. If the Maple Leafs ever decide to give him more responsibility (and by that I mean in a way to spur his development), there’s a good chance those numbers climb quickly. The skill and the spark are there. Now he just needs the opportunity.
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Most nights, he’s stuck on the third or fourth line. Sometimes, he’s even been a healthy scratch, and that’s hardly ideal for a rookie bubbling with potential. Transitioning to the NHL is a massive leap, and admittedly, Cowan has made rookie errors, including some ill-advised penalties that led to power-play goals against. But not having the chance to play through those mistakes isn’t really putting him in a position to grow any faster.
Why Cowan Deserves More Chances
Right now, Cowan is a top-six talent stuck in a third-line role. His vision, passing skills, and hockey IQ scream that he should be playing higher up in the lineup. When he has had the chance to do so, he’s shown flashes of that potential, looking dangerous even if he missteps along the way.
A little mistake here and there is a normal part of the growing pains of being a rookie. The question is, how can he learn and grow if he keeps getting buried on the depth chart?
Alternatives for Better Using Cowan
There are several ways the Maple Leafs could be using Cowan more effectively in the lineup.
First, he could be promoted to the top six. That’s the most obvious fix and would give Cowan the chance to play with the skilled forwards. Imagine him on a line with someone like Matthew Knies, for example. His playmaking and speed could complement top-line players. Putting him in this role allows him to develop chemistry with better players and really showcase what he can do.
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Second, he could be given more consistent ice time, regardless of where he’s played. Instead of shuffling him around or leaving him on the bench, the Maple Leafs should commit to giving him a set amount of ice time. If he knows he’s going to get consistent minutes, it’ll reduce the anxiety of having to impress coaches every shift. He can take some risks and learn from mistakes instead of worrying that one mistake will cost him a shift.
Third, and perhaps more radical, if the big club won’t use him in the lineup, why not send him to the American Hockey League (AHL)? If the coaching staff isn’t open to pushing him into the top six, maybe a longer stint with the Toronto Marlies would be better. There, at least he’d get the ice time he needs and really hone his offensive skills against seasoned players, rather than being limited to a few minutes with the Maple Leafs.
Right now, he seems too strong for the AHL and too sheltered in the NHL without playing regular minutes. That kind of lineup limbo can be debilitating to his growth.
The Bottom Line for Cowan
Cowan’s rookie season doesn’t have to define his career. The Maple Leafs need to decide whether to develop him properly in a role that suits his skill set or risk stunting his growth with limited ice time. For someone with so much promise, it’s frustrating to see him not utilized effectively.
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It’s time to give Cowan a chance, or else the organization might be slowing down his progress.
