Maple Leafs’ Cowan Showing He’s Capable of Being a Top Line Player

Last season, it was a feeling out process for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan. He made the roster out of camp as a rookie and had his high and low points throughout the season. He was moved up and down the lineup, got meaningful minutes towards the end of the season and even won the American League Hockey Championship with the Toronto Marlies as a key offensive contributor.

In his second season, Cowan is already taking massive strides forward as the aspects to his game that really made him catch the team’s attention in his draft year are showing even more. He’s quickly becoming an important player and one that’s providing a significant impact.

Just over a month into the season, Cowan has found himself on the top line. As a result, he has earned that opportunity and continues to impress as he fits in well alongside Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic.

Cowan’s Top Line Impact

To say that Cowan was poised for a breakout season is an understatement, given what he did late last season and his early-season impact and consistency. He’s just under a point per game (13 in 14 games) and is on pace for a 78-point season. 

No matter what line he was on or situation that he was in, Cowan was noticeable and that really caught the attention of head coach Jim Hiller, who put him on the top line. Needless to say, Cowan formed great chemistry with both Matthews and Roslovic. The pace, energy and the puck-hounding mentality he possesses is a great fit with the skill and shot of Matthews and the speed and deceptiveness of Roslovic.

This isn’t the first time that Cowan has played alongside the captain. Last season in a small sample, he did have favourable results at five-on-five. He had a goals for percentage of 70%, a high danger chances for of 53.33% and a high danger goals for advantage of 5-0. He showed that he could keep up and play alongside a skilled and veteran player. This season, the line of Roslovic-Matthews-Cowan have a GF% of 71.4% and a HDCF% of 62.50%.

The results are there and although he didn’t have his best game against the Calgary Flames, he was able to show some fight and was able to bounce back with a goal. That along with his skill has really made him a potential version of Brandon Hagel for the Maple Leafs.

The way that Cowan’s able to read and feed off of both Matthews and Roslovic is why he has found success early on. He’s creating plays off the rush, countering quickly and effectively and is making himself available for a scoring chance whenever he can. He has already caught the attention of the fans, but it’s the coach and general manager that have really been impressed.

Catching the Eye of GM, Coach

Cowan has continued to excel no matter who he has played with. Hiller promoting him to the top line has paid off as they’re 4-1 with him there. While Cowan has shown the skillset, feistiness and ability to be tenacious on the forecheck, other factors have been at play that his coach absolutely loves.

“He’s a much better player without the puck than I thought he was,” Hiller said of Cowan according to TSN’s Mark Masters. “And that really does take some time as a young player. Usually that develops over time. I’m just really impressed when I go through the video and I watch him, I see his reads, he really understands the game on both sides of it already.”

Even general manager John Chayka has seen Cowan’s demeanour and the way that he has embraced what it means to play for this team.

“He loves the Leafs. He’s passionate about it,” Chayka said of Cowan. “Plays a 200-foot game. Does whatever it takes, you know, in the gym, doing extra on the ice. It’d be tough to ever improve on a player like that.”

The skill and on-ice play is great, but the vibes, energy and mindset that Cowan possesses is what’s making him a fan favourite on the team, internally and externally. He has fit in well and formed great chemistry on the top line and they continue to get results with him there.

The production has ticked upward and he’s a model of consistency given his work ethic and ability to be in the right place at the right time. He truly has shown that he can play in a top-line role and excel.

Statistics from Natural Stat Trick.