The Leafs sign 18-year-old prospect to NHL contract

The London Knights standout enjoyed a sensational playoff run last season, amassing 21 points in 20 games, after a solid season 20 goals and 53 points in 68 games. He was always going to be a solid prospect, but almost nobody expected the Leafs to select him in the 1st round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

The Leafs snagged Cowan at 28th overall, which caught many off guard, but it was later revealed that the Leafs weren't the only team who had Cowan on their draft board towards the end of the 1st round. Still a bit of a project, Cowan attended Leafs Summer Development Camp in July and is also expected to take part in Leafs training camp in September.

The most likely outcome here is that Cowan will return to his OHL team for another year in Mark and Dale Hunter's program in London. He still needs to add some weight to his frame and fill out a bit more, but he has a great base to build off of, including a relentless motor, strong skating, a high hockey IQ and excellent work ethic. He models his game after Nazem Kadri, so I'm sure Leafs Nation is going to love this kid.

Cowan is also eligible for an ELC slide for two seasons, which will allow the Leafs to take their time with his development.