Being an NHL rookie isn’t easy – especially in a city like Toronto.

The 2025-26 season won’t be one Maple Leafs fans will remember fondly. Barring an incredible late-season run, the team looks destined to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16, the first season of Auston Matthews’ NHL career. The team’s pipeline lacks substance, the future doesn’t look bright for coach Craig Berube and GM Brad Treliving, and the roster is still an absolute mess.

And then, there’s Easton Cowan.

In a perfect world, Toronto’s roster would have been so deep that Cowan could have spent the entire year with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Young players need playing time – even 20-year-olds coming off a pair of mega OHL campaigns.

But outside of a two-game stretch in early November, Cowan spent the rest of the season with the big club. Fine, if they’re going to play him, why not? But that’s the thing – he’s been a healthy scratch on numerous occasions, and didn’t play for nearly a full month thanks to the Olympic break.

Berube has been criticized for his usage of Cowan a bit this year. If he’s not going to play him, shouldn’t they just let him play heavy minutes at Coca-Cola Coliseum? Usually, that would make sense. But it’s clear the coaching staff preferred having him close, drawing him in when needed, and spending as much time with the big club as possible, learning as much as possible.

So, here’s where things get interesting. Cowan has a 1.54 points-per-60 rating at 5-on-5, which is good for seventh among active Leafs’ forwards. He’s also averaging 6.37 shots per 60 at 5-on-5, which is good for fourth. And just for fun, Cowan also draws the second-most penalties of any Leaf beyond Dakota Joshua.

Yeah, Cowan has been as good as you’d expect a 20-year-old rookie without a high offensive ceiling to play. There’s a reason he’s in the top six right now – he makes plays happen. Significant, consistent playing time still would have been the better idea to get him up to speed.

Cowan is very tenacious. When he’s at his best, especially in the playoffs, he really wants to get a hold of the puck. He’s going to take it off you because he’s always chasing. He’s got that speed to make it work and he’s got notable offensive skill. Cowan is not going to be a massive point guy in the NHL. I don’t expect him to get 80 points in the NHL, but he might get you 55 points and do these other things that make him very valuable. He’ll hit the ice, play physically, and can even kill penalties. That’s where a lot of that value comes from.

Cowan has definitely bulked up since his draft day, but putting that extra size to work against seasoned pros is a different beast entirely. While scouts predicted a late-stage junior growth spurt –and he’s undeniably stronger now than in 2023 – the real trick will be stacking on more muscle without losing the speed and edge that make him so lethal. If he can strike that balance, he’s going to be a force at the NHL level.

The former London Knights star did a lot of winning in junior hockey, but he won’t get to do that in the NHL this year. Cowan will be eligible to join the Marlies for the team’s playoff run, which could be a massive boost for his confidence. Cowan is used to playing high-pressure games and often thrives in them (beyond his two World Junior tournaments). Given all his time playing in the NHL this year, he’ll be more than ready to help the Marlies go for glory.

Young players just need to play. Berube should do whatever it takes to keep Cowan in the lineup over the next 10+ games to get him set for the Calder Cup playoffs and get that confidence on track. Points have been hard to come by recently, but he tends to play better the more he’s on the ice – who knew?

Overall, it was a fine rookie season for Cowan. He’s not going to receive any Calder Trophy love, and that’s OK. The focus is on the long-term, and the Leafs don’t have many prospects worth getting excited about. Toronto is headed for some changes this summer, and it’ll be interesting to see where the Leafs view Cowan in the lineup moving forward next year. There’s a lot to like about his game, and with the right development, he could realize his big-game dreams sooner rather than later.

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