Easton Cowan remains the most intriguing player during training camp for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the 20-year-old forward may have assured his opening night spot. Cowan has been operating on Toronto’s fourth line alongside Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton, where his improved confidence with the puck and spatial intelligence have been evident throughout the preseason. This line exploded for an eight-point performance in a 7-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on September 25, and may be here to stay throughout October.

Laughton is a veteran of 681 NHL games and the 31-year-old has plenty of experience to share throughout his NHL tenure, making his debut as an 18-year-old with the Philadelphia Flyers. And while there may be a natural tendency to provide some advice, Laughton is letting Cowan rely on his instincts throughout the fall.

“Yeah, we’ve talked throughout camp a little bit,” Laughton told The Leafs Nation after Thursday’s morning skate. “Being on the same line, I don’t want to really say too much to him. I think he’s going pretty good right now, so kind of let him play, and that’s it. Try and help him on the ice as much as I can on the bench and things like that. I’ve been in that position many a time, where you’re fighting for it. It’s tough. It’s hard to make it, but it’s harder to stay. That’s one thing I really learned is how to be consistent every day in this league and bring it. I’m really excited for him. He’s been awesome on our line. It’s been a lot of fun to play with him and (he’s) always looking to make plays, which I think helps.”

Laughton and Cowan will be on the same line again during Thursday’s preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings, where they will continue to build chemistry ahead of the October 8 season opener against Montreal. And while there have been notable critics about the idea of deploying Cowan on the fourth line, namely Bruce Boudreau, there’s an opportunity for Toronto’s top-ranked prospect to begin the year against NHL competition, aided by two NHL veterans who are more than happy to share their wealth of experiences.