Toronto Maple Leafs could be forced to trade Easton Cowan to address needs
The Toronto Maple Leafs could be forced to trade top prospect Easton Cowan if the team wants to address their current areas of need.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Easton Cowan from the London Knights, most of the fan base let out a collective, "who?" At the time it had seemed like the Maple Leafs had gone way off the charts with their pick. Fast forward a year and it now appears the Leafs may have ended up with the steel of the draft.
Cowan went on to become the ohl's MVP and had one of the longest scoring streaks in league history. The young prospect has set his sights on making the Maple Leafs as early as this season. However, for the Maple Leafs, the team is currently operating within a 4-year window.
For the team, they must win now and do so within the next 4 years of Auston Matthews' contract. After free agency, the team still remains with multiple holes and despite attempts to fix it, Toronto is left with limited assets. Jonas Siegel of The Athletic pointed out today that without many selections in the upcoming draft, Toronto could be forced to trade one of their current assets.
The Leafs have only one pick in the first four rounds of the 2025 draft at the moment, and it's a second they acquired from Florida at last month's draft. Their most attractive pick to move is a first in 2026. Another top trade asset, potentially: Easton Cowan.
It is unlikely that Toronto would willingly part with Cowan, but if the team is looking to win now and is in search of ways to solidify their forward group, they could take a big swing. Doing so however would come at a big expense. Now the Maple Leafs must weigh the risks of moving on from such a valuable asset against the risks of not.
Does Cowan have what it takes to make an impact now or are the Maple Leafs better served to look short-term?
Source: Jonas Siegel
Ten thoughts on the Maple Leafs off-season
| POLL | ||
Does Cowan have what it takes to make an impact now or are the Maple Leafs better served to look short-term? | ||
| Keep Easton Cowan | 66 | 52.4 % |
| Trade him for immediate help | 29 | 23 % |
| Depends on the return | 31 | 24.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
