NHL Debut: Easton Cowan (Oct. 13, 2025)

Capping off an impressive junior hockey career with a Memorial Cup championship alongside the London Knights last June, Easton Cowan took the next significant step in his journey on Thanksgiving Monday, making his long-awaited NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Cowan slotted onto the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.

Selected 28th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, Cowan captured the Stafford Smythe Trophy as MVP of the 2025 Memorial Cup. Over two Memorial Cup appearances, he tallied 15 points in nine games and became the first player in tournament history to lead the event in scoring in back-to-back years.

Originally drafted 25th overall by his hometown Knights in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Cowan departs the OHL as one of its most dynamic forwards. Across 175 regular-season games, he recorded 84 goals and 136 assists for 220 points. He also held the longest “unofficial” point streak in league history, registering at least one point in 65 straight regular-season contests that spanned over two seasons. 

As impressive as his regular-season numbers are, Cowan’s playoff performances truly set him apart. He led the OHL in goals for the second consecutive year and, in 2025, became the Knights’ all-time leader in every major offensive playoff category. His 32 goals and 64 assists across four postseason runs rank third all-time in OHL playoff history.

Internationally, Cowan represented Team Canada at the 2024 and 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships and was named to the CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team this year. His elite skating, playmaking vision, and relentless work ethic made him a difference-maker throughout his junior career.

“He’s a guy that’s good down low in the offensive zone,” Leafs head coach Craig Berube said. “I’d like to get that line some more possession down there, some more plays. He does that stuff. He’s a great hounder too. He gets on top of things, and he’s strong on pucks, hangs onto pucks, and that’s why I made that switch.”