Easton Cowan Returns to London During Olympic Break, Reflects on Rookie Season with Maple Leafs
Easton Cowan didn’t waste any time reconnecting with his roots. Less than a day after the Toronto Maple Leafs broke for the Olympic hiatus, the 20-year-old forward was back in London, Ontario, taking in a familiar scene - a London Knights game at Canada Life Place.
It was a homecoming of sorts for Cowan, who spent parts of four seasons with the Knights, carving out a legacy that still echoes through the OHL. He watched from the stands as his former team faced off against the Kitchener Rangers - and it was a former teammate, Sam O’Reilly, who stole the show. O’Reilly netted two goals, including the overtime winner, to lift the Rangers to victory on Wednesday night.
The Knights, currently sitting fifth in the OHL’s Western Conference with 61 points, are in the thick of the playoff race - a familiar position for Cowan. From 2022 to 2025, he was a key piece in London’s back-to-back OHL championships and last spring’s Memorial Cup triumph. He didn’t just play a role - he was the MVP of that Memorial Cup run, tying teammate Denver Barkey for the tournament lead with seven points in five games.
And in the postseason? Cowan was a force.
He holds the franchise record for most playoff points, racking up 96 in just 60 games. That’s the kind of production that doesn’t just get you noticed - it gets you to the next level.
Now in his first NHL season with the Maple Leafs, Cowan is learning firsthand how tough that next level can be. His rookie campaign has been a rollercoaster, full of growth, challenges, and the kind of learning curve that every young player faces when they hit the big stage.
Through 43 games, Cowan has posted seven goals and 17 points, averaging 13:31 of ice time per night. He’s seen time up and down the lineup, and he’s been used on both power play units - a sign that the Leafs see his potential and are trying to find the right fit. But like many young players, consistency has been elusive.
Lately, Cowan’s been watching from the press box. With William Nylander back in the lineup, head coach Craig Berube has opted to go with more experienced options, leaving Cowan as a healthy scratch for the last three games heading into the break.
“He needed a little bit of a reset,” Berube said ahead of Toronto’s game against Edmonton earlier this week. “I think the break will do him well.
Nothing changes there. There are young guys in the league who don’t play all the time.
There are times they do, but there are times when they don’t, and they have little breaks here and there. They benefit from it.”
It’s a reminder that development isn’t always linear. Even for players with Cowan’s resume - Memorial Cup MVP, franchise playoff scoring leader - the NHL is a different beast. The speed, the systems, the physicality - it’s all turned up a notch, and learning how to navigate that takes time.
As the Leafs rest and reset during the Olympic break, there’s a question looming: will Cowan get some reps with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies before the NHL schedule resumes on February 25 against the Tampa Bay Lightning? He’s eligible for a stint in the minors, and it could offer a chance to regain rhythm and confidence with more ice time.
For now, Cowan’s doing what any hockey lifer would - soaking in the game from the stands, back where it all began. Watching the Knights battle in a tight OHL matchup, surrounded by familiar faces and memories, might be just the kind of reset he needs before the next chapter of his rookie season unfolds.