Maple Leafs HC Craig Berube is overlooking a fix that's right in front of him

The NHL season just resumed on Wednesday after the Olympic break, the Toronto Maple Leafs already have two losses. Head coach Craig Berube is ignoring a solution he already has at his disposal.

The Maple Leafs lost 2-4 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday and 1-5 to the Florida Panthers the next day.

Against the Lightning, the fourth line that Berube chose was composed of Calle Jarnkrok, Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton, leaving out, again, Easton Cowan. Although Jarnkrok did not participate against the Panthers, Cowan was again left out of the squad.

Easton Cowan's case for more minutes keeps growing

Cowan's production, 20, is quite decent for someone his age and role. He has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists).

Additionally, when he is on ice, the rookie is not a defensive problem. In fact, it's the opposite. When Berube gives him minutes, the team usually comes out even or slightly favored on the scoreboard. It may seem like a random indicator, but it's something that can't be said for all the veterans.

Cowan has around 65 shots on goal with a percentage with a 10.8% shooting percentage. It's not a huge deal, but he doesn't live on isolated streaks; rather, he gets to the opposing net regularly and converts at a reasonable rate for the amount of minutes he has had.

That Berube continues to bench a 20-year-old first-round pick with 17 points to give a spot to other players who, objectively, do not vastly outperform him in any metric goes against the philosophy of the youth movement.