Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan invited to the 2024 NHLPA Rookie Showcase

He will get to share the ice with the likes of Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson, Matvei Michko, and Cutter Gauthier among many other high-profile prospects. This is another feather in Cowan’s cap as he prepares to try and crack the Leafs’ roster out of training camp next month.

After being considered a reach when Toronto selected him 28th overall in the 2023 Draft, he proceeded to have an incredible season with the London Knights. Despite missing time due to an extended stay with the Leafs at training camp and playing for Team Canada at the World Juniors, Cowan produced 96 points (34 goals and 62 assists) in 54 games played. Had he played in all 68 games, he would finished with roughly 120 points which would have been three more than the OHL’s scoring leader in Kraken prospect David Goyette.

Part of what made that season so impressive was the fact Cowan went on a 36-game point streak from November 25th to April 16th, which was Game 3 of the second round of the OHL playoffs.  There were only a combined seven games where Cowan didn’t register a point which is quite an impressive feat, to say the least.

He rode that strong campaign all the way to the Memorial Cup Finals which unfortunately ended in the Knights falling to the Saginaw Spirit. Despite falling short of the ultimate glory of junior hockey in Canada, Cowan was still able to secure himself the OHL’s MVP Award and was a finalist for the CHL Player of the Year Award. Oh, and he went on to lead the OHL Playoffs and Memorial Cup in scoring.

Suffice it to say that Cowan likely has his sights set on moving up to the next level because he was able to accomplish just about everything you could achieve in the OHL. Leafs fans feel the same way as many are hoping he can crack the Leaf’ roster out of training camp and secure a spot for longer than the nine-game window. While it would be premature to pencil him into the lineup just yet, you can’t deny that he is going to do all that can to force the hand of Craig Berube and Brad Treliving.

Cowan is the Leafs’ most exciting prospect at the moment, and his invitation to the 2024 NHLPA Rookie Showcase is further proof of that fact.