Article content material
LONDON ,Ont. — Easton Cowan is taking part in his greatest hockey as a London Knight.
Commercial 2
Article content material
That comes on the heels of admitting he struggled to seek out his recreation with the medal-less Canadian world junior squad final month.
Article content material
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2023 first-round decide (twenty eighth general) has 19 targets and 36 factors in 30 video games, and has already eclipsed final season’s 53-point rookie output, which took 68 video games to supply.
He ranks second to Philadelphia Flyers third-rounder Denver Barkey (64 factors) in staff scoring, however extra importantly, is making a distinction within the Knights’ season-best 14-game win streak.
The expansion in his recreation has been famous by at the least one NHL scout.
“Cowan has a number of methods to play,” stated the scout, who requested anonymity. “The factors are a giant bonus however I’m positive Toronto thought it was getting a high-energy participant who would enhance offensively. I believe he’s an offensive play-driver and he has actually taken a step this 12 months.
Your Noon Solar
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
“Essentially the most thrilling factor about Easton Cowan is his recreation simply appears to get higher. He went from taking part in on London’s high line final 12 months with (Ryan) Winterton and Barkey to turning into ‘The Man’. ”
The scout stated the most effective viewings of Cowan this season have been whereas taking part in within the center with Finnish winger Kasper Halttunen — a giant, bodily shooter. Cowan has a knack for realizing when to get somebody the puck and does it at excessive pace.
“I believe I can play anyplace within the lineup,” Cowan stated. “Convey that recreation with the hounding mindset and create turnovers off of it. I really feel it’s been serving to me out just lately and whoever you’re on the market with on a line, everyone has that hockey sense.
“It’s been actually good recently and while you work onerous defensively, it results in offensive probabilities. I need that good 200-foot strategy as a result of that interprets to the subsequent degree. I wish to put up factors and produce for my staff but in addition shut down (the opposition) for my staff, too.”
Commercial 4
Article content material
It’s a novel set of expertise.
“He has some fourth-line attributes however performs at a first- or second-line degree,” the scout stated. “He has Leafs fan-favourite written throughout him. He’s so energetic, however he’s not a fourth-line wind-up toy. He is aware of his strengths — pace and pondering the sport — and performs to them. I hate to say it however Knights followers would possibly wish to watch him quite a bit this 12 months as a result of I believe he would possibly play within the NHL subsequent season.”
The powerhouse Knights want to solidify their maintain on high spot general within the Ontario Hockey League standings.
“We’re a staff,” Cowan, the 18-year-old from Mt. Brydges stated. “That explains what we’re doing rather well. We’re all pulling the rope the identical approach and all of us simply wish to maintain taking part in and successful hockey video games.
Commercial 5
Article content material
“It’s just like final 12 months. We had a extremely shut staff and I believe we’re studying from that quite a bit. We’re exhibiting the younger guys what it takes to win.”
Final Friday on the Aud in Kitchener, Cowan’s effort to tie it with a short-handed purpose within the second-period despatched a message to either side. This wasn’t going to end up the best way the Rangers wished.
One of many themes of the two-game set with Kitchener and the blowout win over Saginaw two weeks in the past was that London has some gamers which might be very tough for anyone to defend.
They tackle the Peterborough Petes on Friday (7 p.m.) on the Budweiser Gardens in a rematch of final spring’s OHL last.
rpyette@postmedia.com
X: @ryanatlfpress
Article content material