The Maple Leafs might have their next rising star in Easton Cowan, who’s already turning heads at training camp. The 20-year-old prospect has earned high praise from two of the team’s biggest names.
Team captain John Tavares and veteran defenseman Morgan Rielly both see something special in the young center.
"He seems a lot more comfortable in what every day is going to bring," Tavares said. "A much better understanding of just what training camps are all about, of playing at the NHL level, and what the standard is."
It’s pretty rare to get this kind of endorsement from the team’s leadership, especially for such a young player.
Rielly’s noticed physical changes in Cowan too. "He looks bigger," the defenseman pointed out. But he’s also keeping expectations in check.
"Making the jump is challenging, no matter who you are," Rielly added. "So as a teammate, you want to support him and help everyone as we get going here."
The timing couldn’t be better for Cowan. With Mitch Marner’s recent departure, there’s suddenly a huge opportunity in Toronto’s top-six forward group.
While nobody’s expecting Cowan to fill Marner’s shoes right away, the door’s wide open for him to grab a significant role as the Leafs head into the 2025-26 season.
The young center’s shown he’s got the talent. Now it’s just about making that tough jump to the NHL level – something that’s a whole lot easier when you’ve got veterans like Tavares and Rielly in your corner.
