Easton Cowan and Gavin McKenna are exactly the kind of young forwards who can change the look of the Maple Leafs’ offense, but giving them the runway they need may come with a price. If Toronto wants both players getting real NHL exposure in 2026-27, a veteran could be the odd man out.
For a franchise that spent years leaning on its Core Four, the picture is already shifting. Mitch Marner is gone, Auston Matthews is still in Toronto for now but that is not a guarantee, and John Tavares keeps producing even as he gets older. That leaves William Nylander as the one established superstar who looks built to handle the grind and help drive an offense that could soon look very different.
Cowan and McKenna are the two names that matter most in that transition. The problem is age.
Cowan is 21, McKenna is 18, and asking that pair to carry major responsibility is a big leap. Still, the Leafs may not have much choice if they want to see what they really have.
Cowan’s first NHL season offered a useful glimpse. It was not perfect, but he finished with 29 points, 72 hits and nearly 15 minutes a night.
By the end of the year, he had become a spark plug who would scrap with anybody. That kind of energy is exactly why Toronto may need to trust him more.
McKenna brings a different level of buzz. He has 310 points over his last 3.5 seasons between the WHL, NCAA and WJC, and the expectation is that he can step right into the lineup and be a factor. The upside is obvious, and the Leafs will need to keep him on the ice as much as possible if they want to see what he can become.
That’s where the roster squeeze comes in. Toronto added a lot of middle-to-bottom six forwards this summer, but the cap is still tight and the club still needs a top-six player.
One possible answer is to give Cowan a real shot alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. That would not be a place to expect 80 points, but a 55-60 point season would be more than solid.
Making room for both young forwards, though, likely means moving someone out. Steven Lorentz is one possibility, but he is described as Sergei Bobrovsky’s go-to guy and a dependable penalty killer, so he is likely staying put. Max Domi is another name in the mix, but he is injured, a major question mark, and likely headed for LTIR, which makes him less of a lineup issue.
That points to Dakota Joshua as the likeliest trade candidate. He was decent enough after arriving last season, but a lacerated kidney derailed his year and by the time he returned, the season was basically over for Toronto. He is also expensive for a fourth-liner, and with the additions already made plus the need to get Cowan and McKenna meaningful reps, his role is suddenly shaky.
Joshua came in under Brad Treliving, and the Leafs are clearly trying to move away from pieces of the old guard. He fits that category, and he is also the most expendable option now.
If Toronto is serious about letting Cowan and McKenna thrive, the opportunity has to be real - power play, tight games, all of it. That kind of runway may only be possible if a veteran gets pushed out to make space.
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Maple Leafs Just Made A Massive Blue Line Bet Fans Will Debate
The Maple Leafs have made a major blue-line commitment, landing Darren Raddysh from the Lightning in a sign-and-trade that cost only a fifth-round pick but brought along a massive new contract. Toronto is betting big on a defenseman whose value has surged because of his offense, especially the way he can help drive a power play, and analyst Darren Pang is among those who see the price as justified by what Raddysh can bring.
Still, this is the kind of move that will be debated for a while in Toronto because the upside comes with real risk. Raddysh is being asked to justify one of the biggest commitments the Leafs have made on the back end, and if his recent surge proves real, the deal could look smart quickly, but if his game cools off, the scrutiny will arrive just as fast. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Cap Squeeze Could Claim A Useful Veteran Before Camp
Training camp has not even opened, and the Maple Leafs are already staring at one of those roster puzzles that can shape the whole bottom half of the lineup. Jack Roslovic looks like the leading candidate to skate with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, which would give Toronto a more offensively tilted look up top, while the rest of the forward group still needs to be sorted out with roles, fit and cap space all pulling in different directions.
The squeeze is most obvious around the fourth line, where Dakota Joshua and Steven Lorentz are both in the mix for a spot that may come down to more than just camp performance. Joshuas $3.25 million cap hit, Lorentzs $1.35 million figure and Torontos 49-of-50 contract slots all add pressure to a decision the club would rather have settled before the first puck drop. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs May Have Found A Cheaper Answer To Their Center Problem
The Maple Leafs have spent plenty of time looking for help down the middle, and Morgan Frost has surfaced as a name worth watching. Calgary is in a rebuild and appears willing to consider moving the center, who is entering the final year of his contract, which naturally puts Toronto in the conversation for a player who could fit as a mid-six option and give the lineup a little more flexibility around John Tavares and Auston Matthews.
For the Leafs, the appeal goes beyond the position itself. Frosts age and contract situation make him the kind of piece a contender can evaluate without paying full price for a long-term fix, while the Flames would likely be looking for younger assets in return. That is where Torontos prospect pool comes into play, with names such as William Villeneuve, Miroslav Holinka and Jacob Quillan fitting the type of package Calgary could ask about as the Leafs weigh whether this is the sort of move that can help now without closing off future options. [Read more 🡒]