Overview

• The 20-year-old enters the weekend Prospect Showdown in Montreal as Toronto’s marquee rookie, skating on a practice line with Jacob Quillan and Borya Valis ahead of games versus Ottawa on Saturday and Montreal on Sunday.
• Head coach Craig Berube publicly said Cowan "has gotta change" parts of his game, stressing a simple, north approach with relentless forechecking, stronger defense and puck management to earn trust.
• Cowan reported adding about seven pounds of muscle to reach roughly 190 pounds and said this is the best he has felt entering camp, reiterating his goal of making the Maple Leafs out of camp.
• Insider assessments, including The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke, frame Cowan’s roster push as an uphill battle given a veteran-heavy forward group and the organization’s preference for proven experience.
• Analysts note his near-term NHL path likely comes on the wing rather than at center, with direct competition for third-line minutes against Nick Robertson as management evaluates whether AHL starts would better serve his development.