After being named MVP of the Ontario Hockey League in the regular season and the playoffs, Easton Cowan is looking to take the next step.
“Obviously, I want to play in the NHL,” the London Knights forward said. “That’s in mind, but I know it’s tough to get there. It’s going to take a lot of work.”
The work continues this week as Cowan has joined 45 other players at the Leafs annual summer development camp in Toronto. Considering how Cowan has carried himself since being picked in the first round, 28th overall, at last year’s draft, the organization isn’t setting any limitations on him.
“I think he’s going to make a push,” said Leafs assistant general manager, player development, Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser. “It’s always hard to take that jump from junior to the NHL. That’s a pretty big step, but he’s proven everybody wrong at every level so I don’t put it past him.”
Cowan, who turned 19 in May, made it all the way to the final cuts at his first NHL training camp.
“It helped me a lot,” the Mount Brydges, Ont. native said. “Having the confidence that I could keep up with the big guys really helped me a lot in the OHL.”
Cowan racked up 34 goals and 62 assists in 54 games with the Knights and also cracked Canada’s roster for the World Juniors. He surged down the stretch and saved his best for last, piling up 34 points in 18 playoff games while leading London to the OHL title.
“I think I’ve just gotten a bit stronger, not only physically but mentally,” the 5-foot-10, 171-pounder said. “I’ve learned a lot on the mental side of the game so I feel like that’s helped me a lot. Just not letting the last shift get to you. I felt like in my draft year I was letting it get to me a bit too much. I saw some steps there this year, just moving on and playing with confidence each and every shift really helped me.”
At first, Wickenheiser was surprised by Cowan’s rapid development.
“But as we got to know Easton and got a chance to be around him every day, nothing he does surprises me,” the Hockey Hall of Famer said. “He is a really special kid. Very driven. He has a great motor on the ice and off the ice. He is extremely fit and hard-working. And he has a high self-belief, which I think you need to make it to the highest level.”
Guelph Storm centre Jett Luchanko, who was selected 13th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in last month’s draft, calls Cowan his toughest match-up challenge.
“He’s just someone who’s always working really hard,” Luchanko said. “He never really takes a shift off. He’s always on you and always on the puck. He’s got everything: speed, skill, smarts and especially that work ethic is what gives people a tough time.”
And Cowan doesn’t plan on slowing down even though it’s the middle of the summer and his season stretched all the way to the Memorial Cup final on May 31.
“I just want to show that I’ve gotten better since last [development] camp,” he said after Wednesday’s practice. “I learned a lot through last year … I’m just ready to get going this week.”
New Leafs head coach Craig Berube was among those taking in the workouts on Wednesday. If Cowan is going to make the NHL this fall, he needs to show Berube and management he can hang at both ends of the ice.
“The defensive aspect of the game will be key for him,” said Wickenheiser, “to be able to check and keep up with the pace of play, not just the offensive side of the game. He is very close. It will be exciting to watch.”
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