Easton Cowan poised to take on bigger role with Maple Leafs - Toronto Star

New coach says the former London Knights star — heading into his second NHL season — could see time killing penalties as the team’s third-line left-winger.

Maple Leafs winger Easton Cowan saw significant time on the penalty-killing unit in the pre-season finale against Ottawa.

The maturation of Easton Cowan is continuing.

New Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller is entrusting Cowan, entering his second season in the NHL, to kill penalties.

“I think he’s going to be that guy,” said Hiller. “We all hope he turns into that guy, a guy who plays on the power play, plays on the penalty kill, plays in the top six, or complementing your checking line.

“We’re not saying he’s going to be out in the penalty kill to start the season, but we wanted to give him a good run. He’s got a lot to his game.”

Cowan has always impressed as a bit of a water bug, a puck-hound, a player that never gives up. It’s what set him apart in junior as a London Knight and earned him a job as a rookie last season.

But last season wasn’t always easy. He was frequently a healthy scratch. Under coach Craig Berube, Cowan got precisely seven seconds of short-handed time on ice. He was an afterthought as far as Berube was concerned when it came to defending.

On Wednesday night in the pre-season finale, however, Cowan got two minutes 23 seconds of short-handed time on ice, the second most among Leafs forwards. The Senators went 0-for-4 on their power play, a night that included a brief 5-on-3.

“It was good getting out there,” said Cowan. “I killed a lot in junior (hockey). Hopefully, I can keep it going.”

Linemate Colton Sissons, a right-handed shot who splits his time between centre and wing and made a career of being a reliable third-liner, likes what he sees so for in Cowan.

“He’s got good instincts, and that’s part of penalty-killing prowess,” said Sissons. “He’s got a good stick. He can read plays. Because he’s an offensive player, he can read what other players are trying to do. I don’t see why he couldn’t have success on the kill.”

Cowan is the definition of a team player. He didn’t sulk when he was scratched last year. He’s not jealous that rookie Gavin McKenna is gathering all the attention that used to come his way, or that McKenna has moved ahead of him on the depth chart.

McKenna, for now, is the second-line left-winger, breathing new life into John Tavares and William Nylander.

Cowan is the third-line left-winger, playing with Nick Paul and Sissons, a pair of big veterans, each with some offensive upside. Paul has eclipsed the 20-goal mark twice in his career. Sissons reached 15 twice in his career. Those numbers would be in line with expectations for Cowan, who had 11 goals in his rookie year.

Hiller seems ready to let offensive-minded players — with Cowan among them — to take a few chances to keep opponents on their heels.

“We’ve had some good days, making plays,” Sissons said of the third line. “Doing it in practice is one thing. Doing in it in a game is another. We generated some looks. There’s a good mix of competitiveness and speed.”

But Hiller also craves a steady, dependable, defensively responsible third line. Already, the plan might be in flux with Paul sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Bo Groulx took over in practice this week.

“It’s part of the game,” said Sissons. “I like Bo. He’s so frigging fast. He can really push the pace.”

All the players the Leafs put on waivers on Thursday cleared. That includes forward Steven Lorentz, who has two years remining on his contract at $1.35 million a year, and defenceman Philippe Myers, in the last year of a deal worth $850,000. … General manager John Chayka is expected to sign defenceman Nick Blankenburg, in camp on a professional tryout … Forward Max Domi is expected to start the season on long-term injured reserve. Forwards Dakota Joshua (core) and Paul (undisclosed) might also … The Leafs have until 5 p.m. Monday to announce a cap-compliant 23-man roster.

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Kevin McGran is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on Bluesky @kevinmcgran