Easton Cowan is off to a strong start on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first line, and Auston Matthews spoke about his new linemate’s hockey intelligence ahead of Thursday’s game against the New York Rangers.

“I think in a lot of different ways. I think just the way he thinks the game,” Matthews said of Cowan after Thursday’s morning skate. “I think he’s got really good, five-foot, ten-foot play. He moves the puck and then he moves himself. And I think just he’s a really cerebral player. He’s obviously not the biggest guy, but just think the way he’s able to think the game, you know, has made him the elite kind of player that he’s playing, growing up and transitioning.”

Cowan was promoted to the Maple Leafs’ first line, after spending the first two games as a healthy scratch. The 20-year-old registered the first point of his NHL career in Tuesday’s 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators. Throughout the opening stages of the season, Cowan has displayed improved balance and an ability to keep plays alive in the offensive zone.

“He’s strong,” Matthews said of Cowan. “I think he’s deceptively a lot stronger than he maybe looks at times, but I think he’s handled it really well. I think he understands kind of the nature of moving up and playing at this level. There’s obviously a lot of big guys out there, strong men, and you got to protect yourself, and I think he does a good job of that.”

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube also spoke about Cowan’s strong details, following Tuesday’s win.

“He really supports the puck well with those guys and makes a lot of little plays that go unnoticed to a lot of people, but I notice it,” Berube said following Tuesday’s 7-4 win against Nashville. “He’s a dog on a bone out there, for me. He hounds everything, get pucks back, strips people. He’s played well.”

Cowan is doing what’s asked of him in his role, transporting the puck to the Maple Leafs’ star forwards. Through two games, the Maple Leafs have outshot opponents 18-4 when Cowan has been on the ice at 5-on-5 and he’s arguably been the team’s most compelling storyline through the opening month of the season.