2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[CarltonTheBear]

The 20-year-old is quick to note he cracked the London Knights in 2022 as a bottom-sixer before developing into a Memorial Cup MVP. He made that pitch to Berube: Start me on Line 4. Let me earn my promotions.

“It’s something you could do here as well,” Cowan says. “Start in the bottom six and you can always work your way up. Whether I’m in the bottom six or top six, I can bring something to the table, whether that’s finishing checks, power play, penalty kill. I’m a good overall player and can play anywhere in the lineup.”

I don't doubt that Cowan has the ability to fill that role, he might even legit be the best option for 4RW right now. I'm just not sure how to juggle that and what's best for his personal development. Regardless it's nice to see a better training camp performance out of him this year.

 

[Frank E]

I don't doubt that Cowan has the ability to fill that role, he might even legit be the best option for 4RW right now. I'm just not sure how to juggle that and what's best for his personal development. Regardless it's nice to see a better training camp performance out of him this year.

Maybe an injury creeps up and they give him 10 games so that they don't need to waive or trade any depth.

 

[herman]

I don't doubt that Cowan has the ability to fill that role, he might even legit be the best option for 4RW right now. I'm just not sure how to juggle that and what's best for his personal development. Regardless it's nice to see a better training camp performance out of him this year.

It's an interesting case for sure, and I think this is something they're taking case by case. Given Cowan's high-floor toolkit, with an open-ended ceiling (not Nylander, but also not merely Pontus Holmberg), and the personality and attitude that derives motivation from challenge rather than cushy treatment, I don't think the Leafs are really losing anything to give this a whirl in the early goings.

I do see him easily supplanting Robertson; similar size and shape and effort, but the stylistic differences work in Cowan's favour. Offense is a chain of events: Robertson is a finisher, and sort of an adequate starter (high effort and intensity, but low effect forecheck); Cowan is a scrappy checker, transitions the puck in both North-South and East-West modes, and keeps plays alive with smart positioning and heavy stick along the boards. Berube's preferred playstyle, for playoff success, is layers of forecheck pressure to force turnovers and cause greasy goals, or box out counterpunches, both of which Cowan has demonstrated aptitude for.

His major development need, in my estimation, is reps at NHL speeds to make simple decisions instinctively and consistently, and putting a bit more deception and quickness on his shooting.

What's the over-under on how many days until Scott Laughton invokes the Travis Konecny comp? 2 more games?

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1972790504325783972

 

[ZBBM]

That's it in a nutshell - actions speak louder than words. Marner may have said he wanted to stay, but many of his actions over the course of the last year and a half point to a player with one foot out the door. It was clear early in the season something was off with him - not so much in his play on the ice, but with his demeanor. He wasn't enjoying being here anymore. Add in the fact that many reports have him not being open to much negotiation about an extension, and, well, any quotes or statements about wanting to stay just look like meaningless platitudes basically every prominent player on an expiring contract puts out there. He'd wanted out for some time - regardless of his media-trained statements to the contrary - and made sure the opportunity to jump ship would be there for him. Treliving clearly got a similar impression, which influenced his statements on the situation, not the other way around.

Just a side note: if people think they can move on from relitigating Marner, then of course that's their personal prerogative and they don't have to discuss it. But there is no "moving on" from it in general. It will go down as one of the most disastrous things a Leafs GM has ever allowed to happen on his watch, and it will be discussed as long as there is a thing called the Toronto Maple Leafs.