<p>The <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>&#8216; ninth early playoff exit in nine years under the Brendan Shanahan regime propelled some big changes, beginning with Shanahan&#8217;s departure. With the extent of changes to the Leafs organization spanning to coaches, general managers, and secondary players, the Core Four has been safe the entire time. For the first time, it appears that there&#8217;s a legitimate chance their Core won&#8217;t look the same next season. Mitch Marner and John Tavares are the two members of the core with expiring contracts, but with each player in a vastly different situation, it feels like Marner is likely on his way out, while the Leafs are actively working to get a contract done with Tavares.</p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2106" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="324"></div>
<p>Maple Leafs top prospect Easton Cowan has long been a fan of Marner&#8217;s, dating back to the mid-2010s when a young Cowan used to idolize Marner in his junior days and early days with the Leafs. The aspiring Leaf youngster sat down with TSN&#8217;s Mark Masters for a conversation about a number of topics, including the London Knights&#8217; ongoing run to the Memorial Cup, playing against fellow Leaf prospect Ben Danford, and his relationship with Marner. Cowan told Masters that being able to talk to the Leafs winger whenever he wants has been a great experience.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Easton Cowan on Marner: &quot;He&#39;s been my childhood favourite player ever since I was growing up, so to be able to text him whenever has meant the world. I&#39;m forever grateful for that&quot;</p>
<p>Best advice from Mitch?</p>
<p>&quot;Never take anything for granted&quot;<a href="https://t.co/qT6yEcanbm">https://t.co/qT6yEcanbm</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Mark Masters (@markhmasters) <a href="https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1925640841697145284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>As much as Marner has taken flak from the fanbase and media for his contract negotiations and lack of playoff performance in crucial games, his impact as a teammate and the energy he brings to the locker room have never been in question. Having played for the Knights himself as a junior player, he&#8217;s never been shy to reach out to Cowan and congratulate him on his accomplishments.</p>
<div class="mb-5">“He texted me after I won the OHL MVP, he texted me after winning the Western Conference, then he texted me a couple of days ago after the MVP for the playoffs and then winning,” Cowan said of <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/easton-cowan-mitch-marner-great-role-model">Marner last year</a>. “I hear from him a lot. We text quite a bit, so it’s pretty cool. He’s a great role model for me, and like I said, it’s pretty cool when he’s texting you and it’s cool to win the same stuff he’s won.”</div>
<div></div>
<div>With Cowan chomping at the bit for another shot at the Memorial Cup title as he wraps up his final junior season, he&#8217;ll be knocking on the door to crack the Leafs full-time next season. It would be a shame if he didn&#8217;t get a chance to play with his idol, but that&#8217;s the business of sports. And with or without Marner in the same locker room as him, he&#8217;ll always be there to give him some encouragement when necessary and congratulations when applicable.</div>
<div></div>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="INSTANT REACTION: MLSE CEO Keith Pelley Addresses Shanahan Exit &amp; Leafs&#039; Game 7 Disaster" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cixXfXtGZAs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div></div>
<div><strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong></div>
<div></div>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>


The <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>' ninth early playoff exit in nine years under the Brendan Shanahan regime propelled some big changes, beginning with Shanahan's departure. With the extent of changes to the Leafs organization spanning to coaches, general managers, and secondary players, the Core Four has been safe the entire time. For the first time, it appears that there's a legitimate chance their Core won't look the same next season. Mitch Marner and John Tavares are the two members of the core with expiring contracts, but with each player in a vastly different situation, it feels like Marner is likely on his way out, while the Leafs are actively working to get a contract done with Tavares.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2106" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="324"></div>
Maple Leafs top prospect Easton Cowan has long been a fan of Marner's, dating back to the mid-2010s when a young Cowan used to idolize Marner in his junior days and early days with the Leafs. The aspiring Leaf youngster sat down with TSN's Mark Masters for a conversation about a number of topics, including the London Knights' ongoing run to the Memorial Cup, playing against fellow Leaf prospect Ben Danford, and his relationship with Marner. Cowan told Masters that being able to talk to the Leafs winger whenever he wants has been a great experience.

https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1925640841697145284

As much as Marner has taken flak from the fanbase and media for his contract negotiations and lack of playoff performance in crucial games, his impact as a teammate and the energy he brings to the locker room have never been in question. Having played for the Knights himself as a junior player, he's never been shy to reach out to Cowan and congratulate him on his accomplishments.
<div class="mb-5">“He texted me after I won the OHL MVP, he texted me after winning the Western Conference, then he texted me a couple of days ago after the MVP for the playoffs and then winning,” Cowan said of <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/easton-cowan-mitch-marner-great-role-model">Marner last year</a>. “I hear from him a lot. We text quite a bit, so it’s pretty cool. He’s a great role model for me, and like I said, it’s pretty cool when he’s texting you and it’s cool to win the same stuff he’s won.”</div>
<div></div>
<div>With Cowan chomping at the bit for another shot at the Memorial Cup title as he wraps up his final junior season, he'll be knocking on the door to crack the Leafs full-time next season. It would be a shame if he didn't get a chance to play with his idol, but that's the business of sports. And with or without Marner in the same locker room as him, he'll always be there to give him some encouragement when necessary and congratulations when applicable.</div>
<div></div>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cixXfXtGZAs
<div></div>
<div><strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong></div>
<div></div>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>

Recent articles from Alex Hobson

Breaking News