In Scott Laughton’s absence, top Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has been thrown right into the fire, working his way up to the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. Speaking at morning skate on Friday, head coach Craig Berube talked about how he’s helping Cowan while the 20-year-old learns on the job.

“You gotta have patience,” he said. “It’s managing them and managing what’s going on in the game, working with him on things he can do better, that’s a coach’s job. He understands it too, he’s a smart guy. He knows things he can do better and things he’s done well.”

At practice Friday, Cowan shared that he felt good about how he played through the first two periods on Thursday, but felt the game slip away from him in the third. While Cowan works on learning to play a full 60-minute game at the NHL level, Berube shared the direct advice he’s giving the young forward.

“Simplify,” Berube said. “When you’re up 1-0 in the game, understanding that you gotta be patient and take what’s given to you in a game like that. It’s a tight game, you don’t wanna give anything up or make a bad puck play, especially in the neutral zone or out of your own zone. It’s doing the simple things and being patient, and then an opportunity might pop up 10 or 12 minutes down the period. I think (Cowan) pushed in the third period a little bit too much. I talked to him today and he’ll see it on video too. Like I said, he’s a smart kid, he understands.”

At his post-practice presser, Berube was also asked about captain Auston Matthews after his huge overtime goal on Thursday. While Toronto’s coach has maintained he never saw Matthews’ all-around game dip, he added it’s nice to see his confidence come back along with his goalscoring.

“He’s been pretty solid,” Berube said. “Again, we’re all going to look at the goalscoring, I look at the whole game. But you know, he is scoring. He’s healthy, feels good, he’s been a good player in all aspects of the game for me.”

Matthews and the Leafs will look to keep building on Saturday night, as they continue their homestand, facing off against the Seattle Kraken.