TORONTO — In Craig Berube’s mind, Easton Cowan couldn’t have had a better training ground for pro hockey life than in London, skating under the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach’s close friend and fellow hard-nosed forward, Dale Hunter.
“They run things like an NHL team would, system-wise, in playing the game. And Dale’s very good at looking at a player and seeing the future in him,” Berube said Friday at training camp. “What he could become.
“Easton came in at (age) 16, 17 in London, and he wasn’t the player that he became. And I think that’s just Dale’s vision. He teaches these guys how to play the game the right way.”
Which is why Cowan begins this training camp, his third, skating beside a couple of new but trusted veteran third-liners, Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua.
Berube envisions a fearless playmaker adding a jolt of offence to his work-in-progress checking line, and Cowan — who piled up 165 points in his final 100 OHL games — counts himself a candidate.
“He’s a high-end skill player. Very quick. Can make plays,” Joshua says. “I’ve been impressed with him, and I like his game a lot.”
Roy says Cowan’s speed jumped out first, but competitiveness may be his strongest attribute.
“Every time he’s out there, he wants the puck. He wants to be a difference-maker. So, that’s obviously a plus as a young player,” Roy says. “He’s been fun to watch.”
Raised a farm boy in Mount Brydges, Ont., the 20-year-old NHL hopeful is no stranger to hard work.
So, after celebrating his Memorial Cup victory with downtime at a few cottages and grinding his golf handicap down to a 6, Cowan returned to the Six a full month before camp’s official opening to begin his big-league bid.
“He looks more confident coming into this year. He’s a year older, a little bit more experienced and had a good year last year, so you can always build off that,” Oliver Ekman-Larsson says, following battle drills. “I really like where he’s at. He’s looking really good.”
We sat down with Toronto’s top prospect for a one-on-one chat about his NHL dream, dealing with last season’s trade chatter, and what the departure of Mitch Marner means for him.
(This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.)
SPORTSNET.CA: Why could this training camp, this bid to make the team, be different from last year’s?
Easton Cowan: The summer I had felt great. I put in the work coming into camp. I feel great. It’s the most confident I’ve ever felt. Just feel bigger, stronger and more confident on the ice.
Sportsnet: Brad Treliving says it was “100 per cent” the right decision to send you back to junior for 2024-25. Do you agree?
Cowan: For sure. Going back to London, you’re never in bad hands when the Hunters are coaching you. To go back for another year and learn how to manage the puck better and still work on my offensive upside was huge for me. Definitely, it was the right call.
Sportsnet: Now you’re a professional, whether it’s here or with the Marlies. What advice have you gotten about making the transition?
Cowan: You just see it throughout the day-to-day in the summer. I watch the pro guys, how they treat their bodies, what they eat, how they warm up and cool down. Stuff like that goes a long way and really helps me enter my first year.
Sportsnet: What would it mean to you to make the cut?
Cowan: A lot. Growing up a Leafs fan, coming to games, and every one of my buddies and everyone in my family are Leafs fans, so it’d be super cool to play in the opener and get a chance to play in the NHL. That’s my goal, to play in the NHL. And as soon as I make it there, then you’ve got to stick there. You gotta keep getting better each and every day, and you’re never guaranteed a day in the NHL. So, it’s a good challenge. And I’m ready for it.
Sportsnet: You grew tight with Fraser Minten. You two spoke or messaged almost daily, and now you’re renting his place in Toronto. Does it feel weird that Fraser isn’t here?
Cowan: For sure. I was his roommate the last two years (at training camp). So, it’s different having a different roommate (prospect Sam McCue), but that’s the business. I wish him nothing but the best, and hopefully one day we’ll play against each other.
Sportsnet: Did Fraser leave his place a mess?
Cowan: No, it’s pretty tidy. He’s got some nice couches for me. So, it’s really nice.
Sportsnet: OK, so when Fraser got traded to Boston on deadline day, what was the first thing went through your mind?
Cowan: I played that day in London, so I was getting ready to go to the rink and making sure I didn’t get traded or anything. Then he ended up texting that he got traded. So, that was unfortunate, but it’s part of the business. He knew that, too, and he’s happy there. I got a couple of other buddies that are prospects there, too, so they’re getting along well. It’s good for him.
Sportsnet: When people spoke about Leafs prospects with real value last season, it was always you and Fraser. At the same time, you’re trying to concentrate on winning a Memorial Cup. How did you deal with the rumours?
Cowan: I didn’t really ever think I was gonna get traded. I knew the organization likes me here, and I love it here as well. So, very happy I didn’t. I kinda focused on what I can control. Obviously, that’s out of my control. Going back to London, putting in the work every day — that’s what I can control. And I just focused on that.
Sportsnet: One year ago, you were telling me that you wanted to add more Max Domi–style sandpaper to your game. Were you able to take strides in the physicality department?
Cowan: Yeah, it was good. Even at the rookie games (last) weekend in Montreal, I was finishing my checks more. You hit a guy through his triangle, he doesn’t want to deal with that every night. Little stuff like that will go a long way, especially making the jump to pro.
Sportsnet: Describe your relationship with Craig Berube.
Cowan: Really good coach. He’s been coaching for a while, and he’s best buds with (London’s) Dale Hunter. They coach in similar ways. I find that when I was playing pre-season last year, and then when I played in London, they have the same mindset. That’s defence first, and then it will lead the offence. So, it’s good for me that way. He just helps me out. He knows I’m a young player. He’s very good with encouraging me and giving me that extra boost I need.
Sportsnet: Your best Dale story.
Cowan: Not too many stories. He’s kind of a quiet guy. It’s just all the things I’ve learned from him. It’s funny, thinking about the player he was — played hard. It was nice. We could play hard, too. If we took a hard penalty, he wouldn’t care too much. He just cares about the ones you take 200 feet from your net. Definitely good playing for him.
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Sportsnet: The rules have shifted with making the jump from the CHL to the States. When you faced your decision as a kid, how seriously did you consider the NCAA?
Cowan: I talked to a couple in NCAA schools. But growing up, I loved London Knights. I always wanted to be a Knight, so I’m glad I got the opportunity to play there — and for just one organization. Great feeling walking in there on a Friday night and the place is sold out. I feel like it really prepared me for making the jump to pro. I always say London’s like the Toronto of the OHL: All eyes are on them. They either love ya or hate ya. So, for sure London was the right call. I probably wouldn’t have done anything different.
Sportsnet: Mitch Marner, fellow London guy and a mentor to you. You spoke a lot. How different is Leafs camp without his presence, especially for you?
Cowan: He was very good to me. He’s a very good teammate. And that’s the part of the business, you know? I wish him nothing but the best. But now there’s an opportunity opening up for other players in Toronto here, and I think a lot of people are excited for the opportunity. And a lot of people want to take it, so it’ll be a good challenge here.
