Leafs Rookie Easton Cowan Wants to Bring a New Type of Toughness to Toronto
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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Easton Cowan is not only looking to make the Leafs out of training camp, but to bring a new type of toughness to the organization.
Growing up on a farm just outside of London, Ontario, Easton Cowan's steep rise to being the Leafs' top prospect shouldn't come as a surprise. It certainly hasn't to his family or himself, thanks to the work ethic that the farm instilled.
This week, Cowan discussed what he hopes to bring with him to camp, embracing the pressures of playing in Toronto and the player whom he tries to emulate the most, among other topics during his discussion with The Athletic's Joshua Kloke. He says he plans to improvise as much as he needs to in order to make the team, which he knows will be a challenge.
"You can be tough in different ways. People talk about hockey being physical, but having a good mental game is huge. With farming, there are going to be times when equipment breaks down and my dad is going to have to improvise. You've just got to stay in the moment and then keep going. And on the ice, I have to be just as relentless. Keep going. Even when the puck is bouncing on me, I've got to keep working hard. And I've always believed that when you work hard, good things will come."
Playing in a market like Toronto, mental toughness is something that is a necessity given how volatile fans and the media can be at times and it's something Cowan has a lot of thanks to the farm and playing in the junior hockey hotbed that is London, although the doubt cast on him after being drafted by the Leafs took a toll on him initially as he deleted his 'X' account - something he says he regrets.
"I wish I'd never deleted it. If people don't like me, I'm going to use it to motivate me. After draft night, not a lot of people believed in me. So getting to play in the NHL would be huge."
Cowan is looking to bring a new intensity to the Leafs, but it may also have a bit of a familiar flavour, as he has tried to emulate fellow former London Knight and ex-Maple Leaf Nazem Kadri.
"You can see it on the ice: He plays with jam. He's not going to let anyone boss him around."
Kadri's "jam" is what unfortunately led to the ending of his tenure in Toronto, but as long as Cowan can keep his emotions in check, he could become a vital piece, helping the Leafs end their long-standing Stanley Cup drought.
Training camp is set to kick off on Wednesday with player medicals as Cowan returns with the rest of the prospects from Montreal, where he had an decent showing in two games against the Montreal Canadiens prospects.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 17 | 1155 ANSWERS Leafs Rookie Easton Cowan Wants to Bring a New Type of Toughness to Toronto How many games will Cowan play for the Leafs this season? | ||
| 9 or less | 304 | 26.3 % |
| 10-20 | 309 | 26.8 % |
| 21-40 | 266 | 23 % |
| 41+ | 276 | 23.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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