Maple Leafs' Easton Cowan? It's Hard Not to Get Ahead of

In the NHL, sometimes rookies end up wearing the label of “next big thing” before the ink on their bio has even dried. Right now, that early shine has landed on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Easton Cowan. He’s lively, noticeable, and plays with a kind of honest energy a limping Maple Leafs team could use more of. When he’s on the ice, you can almost feel the group lift a little.

But he’s also showing the bumps that come with being a 20-year-old playing in a league that punishes every hesitation. Against the Columbus Blue Jackets, he scored the game-tying goal, but he was also responsible for a brutal giveaway that should’ve been an easy goal if Joseph Woll hadn’t been awake to it.

That’s part of the deal with rookies. They make mistakes. That doesn’t erase his progress, but it does remind you how early we still are in his career.

With Cowan, There’s a Tug Between Hype and Patience

The conversation around Cowan has started to split into two familiar camps. Some fans see the promise and want to push him onto the roster and into the spotlight, maybe even downplay how small his NHL sample size still is. Fifteen games of good moments can do that to people who’ve been starved for a fresh story. Count me in that group.

Others are pumping the brakes. They’re not doubting him—they’re doubting our habit, as a city, of getting ahead of ourselves. They see a young player finding his feet, surrounded by veterans who haven’t exactly been steady this season. There’s worry that the weight of the team’s problems might spill over him and drag him down. Or worse, that Craig Berube might lean on him too hard in search of answers.

A Steady Rise for Cowan Might Be the Best News for the Maple Leafs

What encourages me most is how Cowan carries himself. He isn’t being handed minutes because someone thinks he’s a savior; he’s earning them by showing up shift after shift. Indeed, the eye test shows his work ethic and skill. However, his underlying numbers (hockey’s analytics) are even better.

And something is refreshing about a prospect who understands that growth doesn’t need to be flashy or rushed. In recent seasons, Toronto hasn’t often given young players a chance to explode or disappear.

Cowan seems content to build. To learn. To take the odd lump and keep coming. If that continues, the Maple Leafs might end up with something far more valuable than a burst of early fireworks: they might get a player who lasts.

The Bottom Line for Cowan and the Maple Leafs

Cowan brings energy and promise, but he still makes rookie mistakes like the dangerous giveaway against Columbus. As a result, many fans are torn between early excitement and reasonable caution. His development will be healthiest if he grows steadily without being overloaded.

Cowan’s effort already earns his minutes—and hints at a player who’s built for the long haul. How his time with the team plays out will be one of the bright spots on this season’s still struggling Maple Leafs.