Easton Cowan has been an unequivocal bright spot for the Toronto Maple Leafs during his rookie season. After Tuesday’s victory over the Boston Bruins, Cowan is growing even further in the estimation of his coaches and teammates.

Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov landed a crushing hit on Maple Leafs forward John Tavares. Cowan was having none of it and made a beeline to the towering Zadorov, trying to exact a measure of revenge.

Here is the play:

“Playing in London and being around the Hunter brothers, and learning about how to do things right, is a big part of it,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Cowan, post-game. “He just has a lot of character, that kid. He had a heck of a game, too. He did a lot of good things out there. He understands, the same as the Anaheim game. If we go back to that, he went out and went after one of their guys. That is instilled in him. He has that. It’s great to see.”

Cowan may just be a 20-year-old rookie, but he plays with tenacity and relentlessness that belie both his size and age. He is always looking to engage defenders in contact, while making high-end plays in the offensive zone. Cowan is a staple of the Maple Leafs going forward, and his teammates certainly love playing with him.

“Great for him to continue to grow and mature,” Tavares said post-game, joking that Cowan feels a bit taller afterwards. “He’ll continue to learn how to handle those situations and handle himself. It’s a pretty big night, he was going out there. The way he came in defence of me, it speaks volumes to his passion for the group and the team.”

For Cowan’s all-around efforts, he was awarded the team belt. It’s a well-deserved distinction for Cowan, the most positive story of the 2025-26 Maple Leafs season.

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