Easton Cowan’s spot in the Maple Leafs’ lineup suddenly looks a lot shakier after Toronto’s busy offseason.
The Leafs went hard at the bottom six, bringing in Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Brandon Duhaime and Teddy Blueger, and they also added Gavin McKenna in the draft. That flood of new options gives Jim Hiller plenty to sort through in the back half of the lineup, and it leaves Cowan as the player with the most to lose.
The biggest issue is simple: the top of the forward group is already crowded. Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, William Nylander and John Tavares have four spots essentially spoken for, and McKenna is expected to get every chance to play on the first or second line. As the first overall pick and a potential superstar in the NHL, Toronto wants to see as much of him as possible without putting too much pressure on him too soon.
Jack Roslovic adds another layer to the squeeze. He’s projected for a top-six role too, and he brings the kind of versatility Toronto values because he can play centre or wing.
Nick Paul fits that mold as well, and he comes with the added benefit of being a defensively reliable player with proven playoff credentials in a premium position. Roslovic also has experience playing alongside Matthews with the US National Development Program.
That’s where Cowan’s path gets murky. There’s still a route for him to work his way into a third-line role, but that only matters if he’s getting consistent puck touches and a clear plan to ease him into the offence.
He posted 218 points from 2022-2025 with London, including 135 assists, so playmaking is clearly part of his game. Even so, he no longer has the direct path to the top six that seemed available late last season.
Cowan was once seen as Toronto’s top prospect and the future of the organization. Now the spotlight has shifted toward McKenna, while the Leafs are also focused on giving Auston Matthews enough help to win right now. That doesn’t make Cowan less important, but it does make his development trickier if the team leans toward veteran minutes.
There is still a case for giving him a bigger opportunity if Roslovic doesn’t catch on quickly. Matthews needs linemates who can win possession and get him the puck, and Cowan’s pace, drive and uber-competitive nature could make him a fit if the other options stall.
Training camp will be a major test. Cowan has to show he can bring offense, but also enough defensive detail to stay in the lineup more regularly.
If that doesn’t happen, starting with the Marlies could make sense, even if it looks like a step back on paper. More minutes, more special teams work and more chances to build confidence might be better for him than a limited NHL role with no clear lane.
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Easton Cowan Is Chasing Something Leafs Fans Have Waited To See
Easton Cowan has already built a rare postseason rsum before even settling into the NHL conversation in Toronto. He won the Memorial Cup with the London Knights in 2025, then added the Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies in 2026, giving Leafs fans a glimpse of a prospect who has been around winning from the start.
Now there is a chance for something even stranger, and maybe unprecedented, if the Maple Leafs can finish the job in 2027. A Stanley Cup would give Cowan three straight championships in three different seasons, a run that is notable enough on its own and unusual enough that it is not even clear whether anyone has pulled it off before. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Suddenly Look Like A Team Fans Should Fear Again
After missing the playoffs, the Maple Leafs have had a full offseason to rest, reset and reshape the roster for 2026-27. The headlining addition is rookie Gavin McKenna, but Toronto also brought in a group that adds depth and experience in different spots, including Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Jack Roslovic, Brandon Duhaime, defenseman Darren Raddysh and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
It is the kind of broad roster makeover that can change the feel of a team quickly, especially for a club coming off a year that fell short of expectations. On paper, the mix gives Toronto more options up front, more stability on the back end and a new look in goal, which is enough to make the Leafs appear far more dangerous than they did a season ago, even if the real answer still has to wait for the games to start. [Read more 🡒]