Easton Cowan has made his way back to his former stomping grounds. Less than a day after the Toronto Maple Leafs took a break for the Olympics, Cowan was seen at Canada Life Place in London, Ontario, attending a game between his previous team, the London Knights, and the Kitchener Rangers.
Sam O’Reilly, a former Knight and Cowan’s teammate for several seasons, scored two goals—including the game-winner—in overtime, leading the Rangers to a victory over the Knights on Wednesday night. Currently, London ranks fifth in the Western Conference of the OHL with 61 points.
Cowan played parts of four seasons with the Knights from 2022 to 2025, a period during which his team secured back-to-back OHL Championships and claimed the Memorial Cup last spring, where Cowan was named the tournament MVP. He tied for the tournament lead in points with fellow Knight Denver Berkey, tallying seven points over five games. Additionally, Cowan holds the Knights’ record for most playoff points with 96 across 60 postseason contests.
Now 20, Cowan is in his first NHL season with the Maple Leafs. His experience has been typical for a rookie—marked by both successes and challenges. He has contributed on every line and has spent time on both of Toronto’s power play units this season. Up to now, he has scored seven goals and added 17 points over 43 games, averaging about 13 and a half minutes of ice time per game.
Recently, however, Cowan has found himself sidelined as a healthy scratch, with head coach Craig Berube opting for other players. Since William Nylander rejoined the lineup three games ago, Cowan has been observing from the press box.
A recent article noted Cowan’s development, suggesting he’s “lost a little bit of his arrogance,” as he works to refine his game. Cowan has appeared in 43 games this season, accumulating seven goals and 10 assists for a total of 17 points.
Berube mentioned that the break could serve as a reset for Cowan, emphasizing that nothing has changed in terms of his potential. He also pointed out that young players often go through spells of varying ice time, and occasional rest can be beneficial.
The Maple Leafs are set to resume activities after a few weeks off, with their first game post-Olympics scheduled against the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 25th. Whether Cowan will be sent down to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies to get more ice time remains to be seen when the team reconvenes later this month.
Fan Take: Cowan’s journey highlights the ups and downs young players face early in their NHL careers, and fans should stay tuned—his development could be pivotal for Toronto’s future success. Watching how he bounces back from setbacks might just define his trajectory, making his story a compelling subplot in this season’s hockey saga.
