Easton Cowan, a 2023 first-round pick, recorded four points in 10 games this season with the Maple Leafs. John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images

TORONTO — Easton Cowan’s time in the NHL is done for now. The rookie Maple Leafs winger was sent to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies on Wednesday after 10 games to start the season.

Cowan, 20, was sent down in part to make room for veteran forward Scott Laughton, who was activated off the IR. The veteran centre has not played yet this season after sustaining a lower-body injury in training camp.

For the most part, Cowan has looked ready for the NHL through his early-season stint with the Leafs. He has one goal and four points through his 10 games. Cowan averaged 12:33 of ice time through his 10 games, above regular forwards Calle Järnkrok and Dakota Joshua.

Cowan has a fan in Craig Berube. The Leafs head coach gave Cowan a brief audition on the Leafs’ top power play unit, as well as looks on the Leafs’ top lines alongside Auston Matthews and then John Tavares.

“(Cowan) to me, really did a lot with the puck, skated well through the neutral zone, made plays in the offensive zone,” Berube said of Cowan on Nov. 3. “It looked like him and (Tavares) really ran off each other well and created some really good scoring opportunities. He’s got the ability to make those little plays in tight.”

The energy and playmaking in his game have been evident and have influenced games. He hasn’t backed off the physical side of the game that Berube demands out of players. There were fewer and fewer lapses in Cowan’s defensive game as his time in the NHL went on.

Yet Cowan’s ice time has reduced through his 10 games, however. He has hovered around 10 minutes of ice time in three of his last four games.

A move to the AHL should not be seen as an indictment of his play or his long-term future with the Leafs. The Marlies are in a busy stretch with five games in the next 10 days beginning Wednesday night. There will be no shortage of opportunities for Cowan to log top-six minutes as well as be active on the power play and penalty kill if necessary. And for a 20-year-old still learning the ups and downs of professional hockey, the more playing time, the better.

Should Cowan dominate in the AHL — and there’s every reason to suggest he could ‚ a return to the Leafs should be expected later this season.

Laughton’s return to the Leafs lineup will be welcomed. The Leafs have had difficulty filling the fourth-line centre role to start the season.

“(Laughton) will be energized, for sure, and will want to get out there and do his thing,” Berube said Wednesday morning. We’ll see how the game goes and how he is looking in terms of whether there is a drop-off or not. A lot of the time, when you’ve been out a long time, you’ve practiced, but it’s not a game. It’s totally different. We’ll see how his energy looks throughout the game.”

Nov 5, 2025

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Joshua Kloke is a staff writer who has covered the Maple Leafs and Canadian soccer for The Athletic since 2016. Previously, he was a freelance writer for various publications, including Sports Illustrated. Follow Joshua on Twitter @joshuakloke