Easton Cowan thrilled to face Sidney Crosby but treating it as ‘just another game’

Easton Cowan is living the dream of every young Ontario-born kid who grew up dreaming of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Not only did Cowan grow up a Leafs fan, but he just scored his first NHL goal as a Leaf on Saturday night, and now he’s getting ready to face hockey’s biggest name from the 2010s in Sidney Crosby.

Ahead of the Maple Leafs’ home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night, Cowan spoke to reporters about what it meant to suit up against somebody like Crosby.

“Yeah, obviously a big fan,” Cowan said of Crosby. “I mean, played for Canada, Pens legend, such a great hockey player, and just the stories you hear about him go a long way and the kind of guy he is.”

The Penguins are currently tied with the New Jersey Devils for the lead in the Metropolitan Division despite many having them pegged to miss the playoffs in 2025-26. It may just be an early-season boost, but rest assured Cowan is preparing for the game the same way he did for every other game he appeared in.

“He’s obviously a hockey legend, so I’m just going to enjoy it. Treat is as just another game.”

Cowan has four points in nine NHL games so far, which is a pretty decent start for somebody who hadn’t stepped foot in an NHL game before this season. He has gotten an opportunity to play with both Auston Matthews and John Tavares, and his latest opportunity comes in the form of a promotion to the top power play unit. Cowan skated with Matthews, Tavares, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly on the top unit and said that keeping the nerves low and just playing his game is the key to success in his new role.

“Just be a good option, I just gotta use my hockey sense, just relax,” Cowan said. “I’ve been on the power play before, so, just go out there and play, support everyone, and try to score when we get a man advantage.”

With William Nylander appearing set to return from injury on Monday night, Cowan skated with him and Tavares on the second line while Matthews has Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson on his wing. Cowan’s status with the Maple Leafs may be up in the air once everybody gets healthy, but the fact that he’s being put in situations like skating on the top line and top power play unit says that Berube trusts him, which could bode well for his roster status in the future.