NHL
Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck
Toronto Maple Leafs
Easton Cowan

Ice Chips: Maple Leafs’ Cowan to make NHL Debut Monday on top line

By
TSN.ca Staff

Published: 

Jim Tatti and Dave Feschuk are joined by Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan to discuss the work he's putting in to earn a spot on the big club next season, why puck management was a focus for him after returning to London this past season, and how the players reacted to the surprise of a horse being brought to the rookie development camp.

Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Rookie forward Easton Cowan was practicing on the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on Sunday, a day after the Maple Leafs fell 6-2 to the Detroit Red Wings, according to TSN’s Mark Masters.

Cowan, 20, was a healthy scratch for the teams first two games and is will make his NHL debut on Monday against the Red Wings in the second half of the home-and-home.

The 6-foot winger recorded two assists in five pre-season games this year.

Cowan recorded 29 goals and 69 points with the OHL’s London Knights last season and had three goals and seven points during the Memorial Cup tournament where he was named MVP.

Winger Bobby McMann moved into the bottom-six forward group on Sunday while forward Steven Lorentz was missing from practice after leaving Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury.

Additionally, Anthony Stolarz skated on his own on Sunday with newly acquired Cayden Primeau was in the starter’s net at practice.

The Maple Leafs used these lines during Sunday’s practice:

Winnipeg Jets

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was not at practice on Sunday with third-string goaltender Jason Kasdorf joining backup Eric Comrie on the ice, according to team reporter Mitchell Clinton.

The reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner got his first win of the season on Saturday, making 32 stops in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Hellebuyck is 1-1-0 this season with a 3.54 goals-against average and .899 save percentage.

Additionally, the Jets recalled defenceman Kale Clague on Sunday and assigned forward Brad lambert to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose.

The move comes after defenceman Haydn Fleury left Saturday’s game early after blocking a shot and he was not available for practice on Sunday.

Head coach Scott Arniel told reporters that Fleury is day-to-day with the injury.

Klague joined the Jets on a one-year, two-way contract in the off-season and appeared in one game with the Moose this year.

Jets captain Adam Lowry and defenceman Dylan Samberg both skated on their own on Sunday.

Lowry, 32, began the season on injured reserve after undergoing hip surgery in the off-season.

The 6-foot-5 centre had 16 goals and 34 points in 73 games last season.

Samberg, 26, suffered a broken wrist during training camp is was given a 6-to-8 week timeline for his return.

The 6-foot-4 left-shot defenceman recorded six goals and 20 points in 60 games last season while averaging 21:08 of ice time.

The Jets used these lines during Sunday’s practice:

Ottawa Senators

Forward Drake Batherson told reporters on Sunday that he’s aiming to make his season debut on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres.

Batherson, 27, missed the first two games of the season with an upper-body injury he sustained during training camp.

The 6-foot-3 winger was practicing among the top-six forwards on Friday and was hoping he would be ready for Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Florida Panthers but wasn’t able to play.

Batherson had 26 goals and 68 points in 82 games last season.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche recalled defenceman Jack Ahcan from the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on Sunday.

Ahcan, 28, has a goal and four points in two games in the AHL so far this season.

The 5-foot-7 defenceman appeared in two games with the Avalanche last year.

New York Rangers

The Rangers recalled defenceman Connor Mackey from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday.

Mackey, 29, recorded six goals and 24 points in 66 games in the AHL last year and appeared in two games with the Rangers.

The move comes after defenceman Carson Soucy left Saturday’s 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins early with an upper-body injury and placed on injured reserve.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Defenceman Kris Letang was not available to practice on Sunday and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Letang left Saturday’s 6-1 loss to the New York Rangers in the third period with an undisclosed injury.

The 6-foot right-shot defenceman skated 15:29 in the loss before exiting.

Letang has yet to record a point in three games this season and has a plus-3 rating.

San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks have placed defencemen Lucas Carlsson and Jack Thompson on waivers Sunday.

Carlsson, 28, appeared in 13 games with the Sharks last season but did not play either of the first two games for the team this year.

The 6-foot defenceman is on the final season of a two-year, two-way contract.

Carlsson had 10 goals and 23 points in 45 games with the AHL’s Barracuda last season.

Thompson appeared in 31 games with the Sharks last season, recording four goals and 10 points. He has not played for the team this year.

The 6-foot-1 defenceman signed a one-year, $800,000 deal extension for this season and is scheduled to be a restricted free agent at the end of the campaign.

Thompson recorded three goals and 14 points in 27 games with the Barracuda last season.