how easton cowan made the maple leafs: inside the journey from underdog to pro
[easton] cowan's game began to evolve. he became a more responsible player, even as questions from the outside emerged about his dropping point totals. steadman began injecting more nhl video into cowan's video sessions.
"I'd cut mitch marner coming back harder, or auston matthews tracking down pucks and creating turnovers. we would look at how they use their body to get into the hands and protect the puck. it would be guys that I know he looks up to and wants to be like. it just gives you that little extra motivation: 'ok, they're doing it up there, I can do it here,'" steadman said. "he took the very minute details of the game to heart."
easton cowan looks good with red maple leaf as canada wins world juniors opener
since being drafted by toronto — his childhood team — [easton] cowan has emulated leafs star and former knight mitch marner, another small but prodigiously talented winger.
"we hung out a lot during team activities at training camp," cowan said. "he's welcomed me in, with open arms.
"I'm kind of like his kid or younger brother."
cowan did his best impersonation of his mentor thursday.
in the second period cowan had his head on a swivel in marner-esque fashion, trying to pickpocket pucks. eventually, it worked. cowan smartly read a passing lane to intercept a puck and walked into a bullet of a wrister top corner to put canada up 2-0.
like marner, he has a focus on shooting more.
"I want to shoot it," said cowan post-game. "I want to show them I'm a dual threat and found my spot. I picked it."
how has he improved? well, yes, with the advice of another future leafs teammate, who happens to have the best shot in the nhl.
"talking to (auston) matthews. he's taught me a lot of how to shoot, know what to do and stuff. so, he's helped me out a lot."
blakekathryn
dededos
jbbartram-illu
germansingergirl
janainaart
annaxmalina
discoholicmusic
