Easton Cowan Returns to London Knights After Toronto Maple Leafs Stint

Easton Cowan has returned to the ice, donning the green and gold uniform of the London Knights once again. This development comes just a day after the Toronto Maple Leafs sent Cowan back to the junior team for further development. “Obviously you want to make the team,” Cowan expressed about the Leafs, “but for my development, it’s right I came back. I’m excited to play tomorrow,” he added, speaking ahead of a practice session with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) London Knights on Tuesday morning.

The London Knights are enthusiastic about Cowan’s return, and his presence on ice suggested marked improvement since last season’s Memorial Cup final. Having been the reigning OHL regular season and playoff MVP, Cowan’s game appears to have developed significantly. Toronto Maple Leafs decided to loan their promising 2023 first-round pick back to London, allowing him to gain another valuable year of experience in junior hockey. “They’re happy with me, and they just want to focus on my details,” Cowan explained. “My goal is making the NHL. But for now, I’m focused on being a London Knight, and I’m excited to be here,” he concluded.

Cowan isn’t the lone returnee. The Knights have also welcomed back 2024 NHL first-round picks Sam Dickinson and Sam O’Reilly, in addition to the Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey. “It’s awesome to see everyone kind of back,” said Barkey, who expressed a keen anticipation for a potential repeat run to the championships this season.

During practice, Cowan and teammates Bonk and Barkey, who recorded 198 points between them last season, received instructions from assistant coach Dylan Hunter. Enthusiastic about Cowan’s return, Barkey stated, “For him, the sky’s the limit. He’s such a special player, and a year older in this league, he is going to be even more dangerous. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.”

Cowan’s brief stint with the Leafs, though not yet cementing his professional status, has certainly been informative. “You learn how to be a pro,” Cowan noted. “It just teaches you a lot and helps you bring it back and show the young guys.”

Despite a slow start to the season with a 1-3 record, the Knights are unfazed with the bolstered lineup. “We want one thing, and that’s the Memorial Cup,” Cowan declared. The team is setting its sights on winning the last game of the season. Cowan is expected to be back in action when the Knights face off against Owen Sound on Wednesday.