Maple Leafs reveal expectations for Cowan ahead of prospects games

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Easton Cowan must have let out a sigh as the Maple Leafs prospects headed east on the 401 on Friday afternoon, bound for Montreal.

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The Leafs didn’t sign a forward during the day, so there wasn’t another player added to what will be a stiff competition for jobs once training camp opens on Wednesday.

Nick Robertson wound up signing this week, months after asking for a trade, and veteran Max Pacioretty was signed to a professional tryout with the expectation that he will turn it into a full-time job. Earlier, general manager Brad Treliving also invited 6-foot-4, 206-pound Steven Lorentz to camp on a PTO.

Some holes on the wing presumably have been filled before the players have had their medicals.

The first step for Cowan and the Leafs youngsters comes this weekend at the Bell Centre, where they will meet the Canadiens prospects on Saturday and Sunday.

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How Cowan, who advanced to the final cuts at Leafs camp last fall and then went and used the Ontario Hockey League as his personal plaything with the London Knights throughout 2023-24, performs once camp gets underway will be heavily scrutinized.

It’s the Leafs or the Knights for Cowan, who is not eligible to play for the Toronto Marlies in 2024-25.

In order for it to be Toronto, at least to come out of camp, John Gruden, who will run the Leafs bench in Montreal, knows what he wants to see Cowan start getting after this weekend. About all that Gruden can say for certain is that as coach of the Marlies, he won’t be guiding Cowan beyond the next 48 hours.

“Cowan wants to make the (Leafs),” Gruden said on Friday at the Ford Performance Centre before getting on the bus. “He’s a competitor. Coaches are going to want guys that they know they can trust and that they can put out certain situations.

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“He’ll be fine as far as … he’s just got to work on things away from the puck. We know what he can do with it. He’s just got to understand when to make a play and when not to, when put the puck in deep and go chase it. He’ll figure that out. He’s a smart guy, but it’s exciting just to see where he is and where he you may end up. That’s that’s up to him and moving forward.”

Cowan had 96 points in 54 games for the Knights during the regular season and followed that with 34 points in 18 games as the Knights won the OHL championship. He won the Red Tilson Trophy as the most outstanding player in the OHL during the regular season and took the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as the OHL playoffs most valuable player.

“He has had a great summer,” Treliving told reporters on Thursday. “Competitive, dog on a bone. But he is a young player too. You want to make sure you’re putting him in a position to succeed and not rushing the process. He’s excited to get going this week and will be excited at camp.”

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DANFORD OUT

Ben Danford’s first game in a Leafs sweater will have to wait.

The Leafs’ first-round pick in 2024 continued to be evaluated for a head injury on Friday, Gruden said, after Danford absorbed a hit by Marshall Finnie on Thursday. As such, Danford, picked 31st overall by Toronto in June, won’t play in Montreal.

“I talked to him, seems like he’s good,” Gruden said. “Stuff like that happens. It’s unfortunate.”

Also sitting out this weekend will be forward Robert Mastrosimone. Gruden said Mastrosimone, who re-signed with the Marlies this week after recording 15 points in 45 games for the American Hockey League club last season, won’t play because of a “nagging” injury.

HARDEN PASSES AWAY

The Leafs issued a statement on the sudden passing of Greg Harden, who worked with the team for the past three seasons as a performance coach.

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The team said it was “heartbroken” to learn Harden had died on Thursday.

“Greg was a man with perpetual positivity,” the Leafs said. “He was a source of strength, wisdom and unwavering support for our entire organization. Our deepest condolences go out to Greg’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed.”

Harden previously worked for the University of Michigan as a counselling director in the athletic department and advised athletes such as Tom Brady, Michael Phelps and Desmond Howard.

Harden, 75, died of complications from surgery.

LOOSE LEAFS

Foward Ty Voit will be among the most eager of the Leafs’ prospects this weekend, returning to game action after he had season-ending shoulder surgery in January. “It’s the worst, it’s not fun,” Voit said of his recovery time. “I want to get back in the mix and show what I was supposed to show last year.” … There’s no shortage of confidence in forward Jacob Quillan, who is not in the conversation to play for the Leafs in ’24-’25. “I want to make the Maple Leafs, so that’s my expectation,” Quillan said, looking ahead to camp. “Anybody can make it at any time.” Gruden’s response? “It’s great that he feels that way,” Gruden said. “Every every player should. At the end of the day, he’s going to come here and start with us (the Marlies) and then go from there.” Quillan had one assist in seven games for the Marlies last season after finishing his third season at Quinnipiac University.

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