When said Craig Berube Easton Cowan “needs a reset” and would sit out Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils raised eyebrows — but maybe not for the reason most think. As Nick Kypreos noted The Kyper and Bourne Showthe situation may be less about Cowan himself and more about the chaos swirling around the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kypreos floated the idea that sending Cowan to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL might be best for his development at this time. His suggestion was to “start playing minutes and get out of the identity crisis environment surrounding the Leafs.” It’s a fair point, because right now the Leafs look like a team still trying to figure out how to communicate as teammates and what brand of hockey they should play.
Between Anthony Stolarz publicly challenging his teammates’ efforts and, as Kypreos argued, indirectly the coaching, Toronto’s room doesn’t exactly look like a steady place for a 19-year-old rookie to find his feet. Cowan, who impressed during training camp and even picked up his first NHL point earlier this month, has met every challenge with poise. But asking him to grow in a lineup still searching for its own identity could risk slowing his progress – or worse, damaging his confidence.
Related: Maple Leafs’ Stolarz and Nylander address locker room tension
Would Easton Cowan be better off in the AHL?
Berube’s decision to give Cowan the night off may be as much about shielding him from the noise as it is about educating him through observation. “He needs a reset, a game to watch. It’s always good for young guys to watch a game at some point. But Cowan is in a good place,” Berube said. Right?
Is Cowan really in the best place by staying with the Maple Leafs? If he plays big minutes and helps the team solve their problems, that’s one thing. If he sits or sees his opportunities limited as the team goes through a series of ups and downs this season, he may not be where he should be with the Leafs.
Watching from the press box allows a young player to study pace, systems and trends without the chaos of live mistakes. Yet extended periods in a turbulent environment can leave even a confident prospect in doubt.
For Cowan, the AHL could offer something the NHL currently cannot: clarity. More minutes, more puck touches and less noise. If the Maple Leafs are indeed in an identity crisis, pulling Cowan out of the storm for a while might be the smartest move they can make.
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