I’m constantly asked what NHL scouts look for in players. There’s a process involved in evaluating prospects in their pre-draft (underage), draft eligible and post-draft development. Some players mature physically earlier than others. Others are elite in many categories but have to be “coached up” to understand the commitment and detailed required for the pro game.
Here’s what I look for in a prospect at every stage of their development:
Speed
The game has never been played quicker and faster than it is now. At all levels of pro, especially due to the elimination of the two-line pass/red line through the neutral zone, hockey is played with skill and creativity — especially in transition through the neutral zone. I’m not overly concerned about how a prospect looks moving from A to B on the ice surface. I only care that they jump to space effectively and don’t fall behind the pace of play around them in all three zones. If a prospect has some “mechanical” deficiencies in his stride, our player development staff will work with the player to assist with get more out of his skating.
Read/React
Describing a prospect’s “hockey sense” or “hockey IQ” applies to many different categories. Elite offensive talents see plays developing one sequence ahead of time. On the other hand, defensive defenceman who are average skaters read the speed of the rush and rely heavily on arriving “on time” to close their gaps and kill zone entries. The bottom line: every player has to recognize his strengths and limitations and manage the game responsibly in relation to his skill set. Reading and reacting to what is developing in all three zones is an obvious must-have.
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Relentless Compete
This category is, for me, the most important base line requirement when I’m scouting prospects. The game is hard and scorers aren’t going to produce offence every day. Which means they have to provide me with a sense of security that they will work their tails off in other areas of the game when they aren’t producing offence. Depth prospects are always in high demand. They are affordable pieces in the team-building process. What they lack in skill, compared to top-line forwards and top-pairing defenceman, they contribute with speed, hockey sense, and the work ethic required to win more battles and generally out-will their opponents.
Once these three categories have been satisfied, a prospect’s elite skill attributes have more of an opportunity to rise to the occasion. It’s hard to score goals in the NHL, for example, without playing fast, thinking fast and outworking your opponent.
Here’s how my process applies to Team Canada forward and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan:
Easton Cowan
5-foot-11, 180 pounds
Left-shot forward
London Knights (OHL)
Draft: Toronto 1st round (28th overall), 2023
Cowan is arguably the Leafs’ top prospect. He’s produced at least a point in 56 straight games at the OHL level. In pre-tournament games ahead of the upcoming WJC in Ottawa, Cowan has been skating on Team Canada’s top line with Bradly Nadeau and Calum Ritchie. He will be relied upon to produce offence at even-strength and the power play.
Process
Cowan impressed me with the way his game grew, especially in the second half of his draft year in 2023. London Knights head coach Dale Hunter trusted the way Cowan was playing the game and rewarded him with more opportunities in high-leverage scenarios.
Here’s my scouting report on Cowan from playoffs in the spring of 2023, before the Leafs drafted him in the first-round:
“Cowan is a riser in the second half of the season. Competes. Plays fast. Doesn’t shy away from traffic or contact. He has the brain to be used in all situations. Has clearly earned the trust of the Knights coaching staff based on his elevated minutes. His shot has improved but what impresses me most is his ability to extend plays with his tenacity. Leans 3F on projection at this time.”
Fast forward to Cowan’s first NHL training camp with the Leafs and the following observations from the Traverse City rookie tournament in the fall of 2023:
“Cowan continues to impress. He has clearly worked hard in the off-season to add more core strength to his frame – resulting in more explosiveness and separation in open ice. A tenacious competitor who’s responsible in all three zones. He’s above the play when his group doesn’t have full control of the play in the offensive zone. He crashes the crease, looking to create chaos and battle for loose pucks. Shot continues to evolve. Confident look to his game. Uptick now projects Cowan as a 2-way/skilled/energy middle-six prospect.”
As everyone in Leafs Nation now knows, Cowan had a great training camp with Toronto in 2023. He rode the wave of momentum back to London and contributed 34 goals and 62 assists in the regular season.
More impressive was his contribution in playoffs for the Knights. London won the OHL championship and earned a berth in the Memorial Cup. Cowan produced 10 goals and 24 assists in 18 playoff games before adding three goals and five assists in four Memorial Cup games. What really impressed me about Cowan’s entire year was the fact he didn’t cut corners defensively. He ended his year (plus-53) defensively.
Cowan’s training camp with the Leafs in the fall didn’t go as well as his first one. I expected more push from Cowan. I honestly believed he had a chance to earn a role on one of the Leafs’ open wing positions. After returning to London, Cowan has been solid but not spectacular. He’s produced 15 goals and 13 assists in 20 games. I really like the uptick in goal scoring from Cowan, but I do feel he has a more consistent level of energy and tenacity to provide. To be fair, Cowan has suffered a few setbacks injury-wise, but he has shown me how relentless he can be, in and out of traffic, in the past.
Expectation
As mentioned earlier, Cowan has been excellent in the pre-tournament games. He clearly has chemistry with his linemates, and it led to four goals and one assist. The Canadian coaching staff, led by head coach Dave Cameron, will be calling on Cowan to lead the way for his group when the real games begin on Boxing Day versus Team Finland.
From a scouting perspective, I’m looking for Cowan to play to his identity offensively without cutting corners defensively. High-leverage viewings of players, in tournaments like the world juniors, provide the scouting community valuable feedback on their prospects. I believe Cowan is going to be a really good pro one day and this tournament is going to go a long way assisting with his overall development.
As you can tell by my historical reports, like all players, Cowan is at his very best when he’s playing with a relentless edge competitively. His skill takes over when he’s playing a fast, tenacious, responsible game in all three zones. Therein lies my expectation for Cowan outside of producing offence.
