Leafs Easton Cowan given massive role in tonight's game vs Montreal

The promising young talent is set to take the ice for his third pre-season game, this time alongside two notable alumni from the London Knights. 19-year-old forward Easton Cowan, taken by the Leafs in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, will be on the ice with Mitch Marner and Max Domi tonight in their tilt against the Montreal Canadiens. Both Marner and Domi have established careers in the NHL.

Cowan has been quite vocal about his love for the Maple Leafs growing up. The chance to play with Marner, who he said was his favorite player, is a big milestone in the young forward's career. This being a pre-season game, the fact that he gets to skate with more seasoned players like Marner and Domi means Cowan will have ample opportunities to show his talent in meaningful ways. For a player who's still getting his feet wet into the pace of the NHL, playing with such accomplished teammates is an experience of gold.

Throughout training camp, Cowan has had numerous talks with Marner and seems to be building a rapport. Marner has lauded Cowan's approach and how the young player stays true to himself, a key trait for someone trying to make an impression in his first NHL camp. Still up the steep learning curve that comes with professional hockey, Cowan gets some added boost of confidence and guidance courtesy of some mentorship from a player he idolized as a child.

But Cowan is also under a lot of pressure to impress at the camp as other forwards like Max Pacioretty, Nick Robertson, and Pontus Holmberg compete for roster spots too. Sometimes, Cowan has flashed some offensive flair, but Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has driven the point across that Cowan needs to cut out some of the junior hockey habits and commit to a more responsible two-way game. Playing on a line with the likes of Marner and Domi allows Cowan to blend his natural tendencies offensively with the structured play necessary at the NHL level.

Easton Cowan's third pre-season game as a member of the Maple Leafs marks an important moment in the youngster's career. With a little bit of an uphill climb to make the roster, centering a line with Mitch Marner and Max Domi puts Cowan in a great position to show off his skills and versatility in such a high-profile setting. His coaches will be there to ease him into things, and his teammates will be there for support along the way, but Cowan will be trying to prove he can contribute at the next level while playing the style that brought him here in the first place.