Easton Cowan gave the Maple Leafs a reminder on Wednesday night why Toronto was wise to hold onto him in the Kirill Marchenko deal.
Against the New York Islanders, the 21-year-old scored on the power play in the first period, and that moment immediately sharpened the conversation around the trade. If the Blue Jackets had pushed for Cowan instead of Matthew Knies, the Leafs might have been staring at a very different kind of regret.
The logic is straightforward: Columbus wanted Knies, and that makes sense. Good players cost good players.
But if the Jackets had been willing to settle for Cowan, Toronto would have had a much tougher decision on its hands. It would have been the kind of move that echoes the Fraser Minten situation.
Instead, John Chayka appears to have avoided repeating Brad Treliving’s mistakes. In that sense, the Leafs may already be getting a payoff from a smarter call.
Cowan’s value goes beyond the box score. Long term, he could end up as a major piece in a core that would also feature Gavin McKenna as the centerpiece. Toronto would still need to find a high-end defensive prospect and a young top-tier goalie, but that kind of foundation could keep the Maple Leafs in the playoff mix for years.
None of that is meant to diminish Knies. He’s a legitimate player, a big power forward who drives hard to the net and finishes.
There’s real 30-goal, even 40-goal upside there. Columbus should still get a good player.
But Cowan brings something different.
He hounds pucks, battles along the boards, and keeps plays alive. He forechecks with purpose and doesn’t back down from contact. Against the Islanders, he even got into it a bit with Logan Stanley, a player at least eight inches taller than him.
That kind of edge matters. It’s the sort of heart-and-soul presence Toronto has been missing for a long time.
It’s a little bold to say, but Cowan attacks the game in a way that calls to mind Doug Gilmour. “Killer” was never shy about jumping into the fray.
If Cowan’s ceiling is anywhere near that, the Maple Leafs may have kept one of the best kinds of young players a team can have: a mainstay.
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