Easton Cowan Hits a Speed Bump in Rookie Campaign, Scratched Amid Maple Leafs' Search for Stability
Easton Cowan’s rookie season with the Toronto Maple Leafs started with a bang - a surprise roster spot out of juniors, early flashes of offensive promise, and the kind of energy that made him stand out in a deep forward group. But as the calendar flipped and the grind of the NHL season wore on, Cowan’s impact has cooled. And on Saturday night, that cooling off reached a new point: the 18-year-old was scratched for the Leafs’ win over the Vancouver Canucks.
With William Nylander returning to the lineup, head coach Craig Berube opted to pull Cowan from the mix - a move that wasn’t just about numbers. Berube was candid about the decision, pointing to a noticeable dip in Cowan’s confidence and presence on the ice.
Berube: “He’s lost a little bit of his swagger”
“Cowan just needs a little reset here,” Berube said pregame. “To me, I think he's lost a little bit of his swagger. That's a big part of his game, and I'm not seeing that right now.”
Swagger might seem like a buzzword, but for a young player like Cowan, it’s everything. His game isn’t built on brute strength or elite speed - it’s built on energy, instincts, and the willingness to make plays in tight spaces. Earlier this season, he was doing just that, showing glimpses of a future top-six winger with the ability to read the game at NHL speed.
But lately, those flashes have become fewer and farther between. According to Berube, part of that may be mental.
“He may be worried about making mistakes and just little things like that that are affecting him and getting in the way of him being successful right now,” Berube added.
Context matters: Cowan’s changing role
It’s not just about confidence - it’s also about context. Earlier in the season, Cowan was seeing time next to John Tavares and William Nylander, two of Toronto’s most skilled forwards.
That kind of deployment can do wonders for a young player’s development. With those linemates, Cowan had more space to operate, more offensive zone time, and more opportunities to play to his strengths.
Lately, though, he’s been skating on the fourth line with Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz - a line tasked with grinding, defending, and managing the pace of play, not pushing the offense. That’s a vastly different role, and it’s one that doesn’t necessarily play to Cowan’s skill set. It’s not a knock on the fourth line or its purpose - it’s just the reality of how roles shape production.
So while Cowan’s numbers have dipped, it’s worth noting that his opportunity has shifted just as dramatically. And with the Leafs fighting to claw their way back into the playoff picture, Berube isn’t in a position to prioritize development over results. The leash gets shorter, the decisions get tougher, and for a young player like Cowan, that can mean fewer chances to grow through mistakes.
What’s next for Cowan and the Leafs?
Toronto snapped a six-game losing streak with Saturday’s win - their first such skid since 2019 - and Berube may be inclined to stick with a winning lineup as the team continues its western road trip Monday in Calgary. That leaves Cowan’s status for the next game in question.
But this isn’t the end of the road for the rookie - far from it. Every young player hits a wall at some point in their first NHL season.
The key is how they respond. For Cowan, that means using this reset as fuel, finding that swagger again, and showing the coaching staff he’s ready to contribute, no matter where he slots in the lineup.
Toronto still believes in what Cowan can become - the flashes were too real to ignore. But right now, in the thick of a playoff race, the margin for error is razor-thin. And for Cowan, that means earning his way back into the mix, one shift at a time.