Published Sep 04, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n The Easton Cowan who strode confidently into Team Town Sports in Whitby on Thursday was a far cry from the shy kid from a couple of Maple Leafs training camps ago.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n At 190 pounds \u2014 \u201che grew taller, too\u201d adds agent Dave Maloney \u2014 to a full six feet, it\u2019s just what Toronto management wants to see as Cowan enters this season with a strong chance to make the club.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The right winger was in the London area all summer training at the Epic facility, four times a week on skates, and joined the growing number of early Leafs arrivals at the Ford Centre this week.<\/p>\n \u201cIt all went well, I put on weight and got better,\u201d Cowan told the Sun before a meet and greet with the awe-struck Whitby Wildcats U12 \u2018A\u2019 level team. \u201cI\u2019ve been skating with the NHL guys who are all funneling back now. They\u2019re all coming up to me to give congrats (for his London Knights winning the Memorial Cup) asking how my summer\u2019s been. Little messages like that go a long way and I feel a little closer and comfortable around all of them.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m feeling good out there, excited for camp.\u201d<\/p>\n Cowan, who was asked to skip the on-ice portion of the Leafs\u2019 development camp in early July because he\u2019d played so much hockey, has certainly paid his dues in junior. The first-round pick in 2023 from Mount Brydges went through two seasons that tested his mettle with the home-team Knights \u2014 a 36-game OHL points streak in 2023-24, league MVP, back-to-back Cup final appearances, with a title last June where he was the tournament MVP, capping 39 playoff points in 17 games. He\u2019s been to two world junior championships for Canada as well.<\/p>\n Now he\u2019ll be at a Leafs camp that\u2019s without all-star Mitch Marner, which will mean at least one right side spot will be open. Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cManagement does a great job staying in touch with me throughout the year,\u201d Cowan said. \u201cI\u2019ve heard from everyone. They\u2019re all being positive, so I\u2019m being positive. The coach (Craig Berube) is like the other management, staying in touch about little stuff to help a prospect make that jump easier.\u201d<\/p>\n Plan B for Cowan, if the Leafs don\u2019t see an advantage in keeping him around, not playing regularly, would be to start with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. He\u2019d certainly see plenty of ice time there, a lot of special teams work and grow in a different way rather than be in the shadow of Auston Matthews<\/a>, William Nylander and others.<\/p>\n But as Howie Meeker would say on Hockey Night in Canada: Stop it there and roll it back.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cMy mindset right now is to make the Toronto Maple Leafs,\u201d Cowan insisted. \u201cThat\u2019s my goal. We\u2019re at an NHL camp and that\u2019s where I\u2019m at until further notice.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is definitely the most confident I\u2019ve ever felt \u2014 faster, stronger, bigger. So that\u2019s going to help me out a lot. I\u2019ve put in the work this summer. Now, it\u2019s just go out there and prove I can play.\u201d<\/p>\n Cowan will never forget the feeling of lifting the Memorial Cup, a year after losing in the final and hopes that feeling carries him into camp on a high, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI love to win, whether it\u2019s a 3-on-3 game in the summer or a Memorial Cup,\u201d he said. \u201cYou want to be the guy who goes out there and helps the team win. That mentality will help me a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n COWAN TAKES PRIDE IN GIVING BACK<\/p>\n![\"cowan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_5521-e1757035582220.jpg\")
Maple Leafs forward prospect Easton Cowan chats with the local Wildcats U12 team last night at Team Town Sports in Whitby. It was not long ago that Cowan found himself in their position.\u2002l Photo by Lance Hornby \/Toronto SunArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.4.3\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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While not putting excess pressure on Cowan, Toronto general manager Brad Treliving talked up the opportunity available to him earlier this week in an interview with The Athletic.<\/p>\n