Easton Cowan is excited to get started as the Toronto Maple Leafs have a new look for the 2026-27 campaign.
The Maple Leafs had a disappointing season last year, finishing last in the Atlantic Division with a 32-36-14 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Toronto’s fall in the standings led to massive changes both on and off the ice. John Chayka, supported by franchise icon Mats Sundin, replaced Brad Treliving as general manager, and the team hired Jim Hiller to replace Craig Berube as head coach.
Chayka then reshaped a large portion of the roster, bringing in standout defenceman Darren Raddysh and players experienced in playing deep into the playoffs like goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and forwards Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, and Teddy Blueger, among others.
The cherry on top was the Maple Leafs winning the NHL Draft Lottery and selecting phenom forward Gavin McKenna with the first-overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
All the moves have created some excitement around the team, and Cowan can’t wait to get started.
“There’s a buzz around Toronto and everyone’s excited,” Cowan told TSN’s OverDrive on Tuesday. “It’s been a long summer, and we’re just ready to get playing. I think we’ve got a good team here and we’re looking to prove it.”
Cowan, 21, was eased into the NHL last season as a rookie, appearing in 66 games while scoring 11 goals and 29 points. He constantly had to fight for his ice time under Berube, but eventually saw his minutes hover around 20 minutes a night in the latter stages of the season.
The 6-foot winger believes his experience was vital to his growth as a hockey player and has been using his off-season to work on key aspects of his game.
“I’d like to think of myself as a versatile player,” said Cowan. “Playing anywhere in the lineup will help you out a lot. I feel like I’ve improved my speed and I’ve definitely gotten faster. I’m looking to take the extra step that will help me out a lot.
“The biggest thing for me [last season] was puck battles. It’s a super tough league and if you can win puck battles all over the ice, you can give yourself chances and your team chances. It’s something I focused on this summer and I’m looking to get better at.”
After the Maple Leafs season finish, Cowan had the opportunity to join the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies for their run to a Calder Cup championship.
He says playing late into the hockey season taught him things about his body, and the experience will only help him in the NHL as the team attempts to get back to the playoffs.
“The extra games helped me out a lot,” said Cowan. “Playing with pressure late in the playoffs, grinding through while maintaining my strength, and making sure my body felt well was a big learning curve. I’m super glad I had that opportunity as well.”
The other aspect the run to the Calder Cup gave Cowan was a chance to experience winning in Toronto after the disappointing campaign with the Maple Leafs.
“I’m so proud to be a part of that group and win the Calder Cup,” said Cowan. “I played with a lot of good players, and they have a lot of good players that can see the ice.
“Those guys were unbelievable and they treated me super well from the first day I got there. I knew right away they had a championship team, and I’m super glad we won that championship for Toronto. It was a lot of fun, a lot of good celebrations, and a lot of good memories I’ll never forget.”
The Maple Leafs will open their preseason on Sept. 19 with split squad games against the Canadians before opening their season against Montreal on Sept. 29.
