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Marlies head coach John Gruden raves about Easton Cowan’s character
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Photo credit: Steven Ellis/The Nation Network
Michael Coyle
Jun 12, 2026, 14:40 EDTUpdated: Jun 12, 2026, 14:37 EDT
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The American Hockey League’s Calder Cup Final is set to get underway on Friday night when the Toronto Marlies square off with the Chicago Wolves. 
The Marlies sit four wins away from their second Calder Cup in franchise history after putting together a magical run throughout the 2025-26 playoffs. After finishing fifth place in the AHL’s North Division, the Marlies have defeated the Rochester Americans, Laval Rocket, Cleveland Monsters, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to set up this highly contested matchup with the Wolves. 
Along the way, the Marlies have received great goaltending, have gotten production from up and down the lineup, and have found a way to win three winner-take-all elimination games to keep the dream of a Calder Cup alive. 
On Friday, prior to the opening game of the series, Marlies head coach John Gruden joined Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga to discuss the goaltending that Artur Akhtyamov has displayed through these playoffs, the growth he’s seen from Easton Cowan, and what the addition of Ben Danford has meant to the club. 
“Artur [Akhtyamov] has just taken the net, and he’s done a really good job with it. It’s just quiet confidence. Everyone has different confidence, and they act differently; his is a quiet confidence, but he’s got that smile on his face when he comes to the rink every day,” Gruden said. “He works extremely hard, and he’s very athletic. He has the ability to make those game-changing saves that you’re going to need at moments within the game, and he’s given our group a lot of confidence.” 
One player whose confidence has been on display throughout these playoffs has been Cowan. After being selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round during the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Cowan spent the past season appearing in 66 games with the NHL club and recorded 11 goals and 18 assists to finish his rookie year with 29 points. 
Following the completion of the Maple Leafs’ regular season, Cowan was sent to the AHL to join the Marlies for the playoff run to experience playoff games at the professional level for the first time in his career. Through 17 playoff games with the Marlies, Cowan has picked up 13 points while also showing an ability to battle through an injury and showing a high level of maturity when he took responsibility for a costly turnover in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. 
“He’s been great. Fortunately, I was able to spend some time with him at the last two prospect tournaments, first in Traverse City then last year in Montreal. I’ve had some experience with him, which is nice, but they always say you don’t know what you have with somebody until something bad happens. Under the circumstances, something bad did happen, and the way he owned up and responded to it says enough about his character,” Gruden said. “The skill set is obviously there, but to own that at his age is quite remarkable. He’s a winner, and we’re going to need him moving forward.”
Another former first-round draft pick on the Marlies is Danford. The Maple Leafs selected Danford 31st overall during the 2024 draft and have been impressed by the growth he has shown in the two seasons that have followed. 
After his junior team, the Brantford Bulldogs, were eliminated in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Marlies added Danford to their roster, and he has fit in seamlessly. Through his first 11 professional games, Danford has picked up two assists while displaying a skating ability that has excited many who cover the organization. 
“I knew it [Brantford losing] was going to benefit us, getting a young player that has the potential to add even more energy to our group. He continues to get better every game with his confidence, and we wouldn’t be here in this position without him,” Gruden said. “He continues to grow, and he’s definitely going to be a player you’re going to see in a Maple Leafs uniform for many years. He doesn’t have any identity issues; I think he knows exactly who he is. He moves pucks quick, he can close quick to make that first pass, and he continues to grow into his body and is getting stronger.”
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