Should We Believe the Maple Leafs Easton Cowan Trade Rumors?

I’m always of two minds when I read ignorant writing about the Toronto Maple Leafs. I know writers like to generate content that piques a reader’s interest — which trade talk does. At the same time, when I link to the article that I think is so out of touch with reality, there’s a chance that somebody else might click on it and read it. So, oddly, I’m helping.

As I’m writing this, it also occurs to me that readers might consider me guilty of what I point out because there’s something in the post that might generate readership for my work. Something like rubbernecking an accident on the highway. Hence, it’s a dilemma.

With that in mind, I considered not writing this post about the Easton Cowan trade chatter that has popped up since Team Canada was eliminated from the World Junior Championships.

Cowan’s Play During the World Juniors Is Not a Tradeable Issue

The recent discourse surrounding Easton Cowan’s performance at the World Junior Championship has sparked a tsunami of overreaction. Some writers even suggest that the Maple Leafs should move on from the youngster. It’s a shameful and misguided perspective that overlooks the bigger picture and fails to recognize Cowan’s potential.

It’s like saying you will never take a particular route back to your summer cottage just because you once got a flat tire driving on that route. Judging a young hockey player’s career based on a short, frustrating problem is absurd.

Why Trading Cowan Would Be a Knee-Jerk Reaction

Here’s why the knee-jerk reaction to trade Cowan doesn’t hold up to the light of reality.

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Reason One: A Single Tournament Doesn’t Define a Career

Hockey is a team sport, and Cowan’s World Junior performance doesn’t fully reflect his skill or potential. He’s shown plenty of promise outside of this single tournament, and to label him as a failure off of five games is illogical. Every player has ups and downs, especially when facing intense competition.

Cowan’s development won’t be judged on one tournament, game, or week. He’s consistently shown his OHL capabilities, and his top-tier forward upside hasn’t changed because of a few disappointing games. Building a championship team means sticking with and developing (which has an educational aspect to it) high-potential players, even when things don’t go perfectly in the short term.

Reason Two: No One on the Maple Leafs Will Undervalue Him

As Elliotte Friedman points out, trading Cowan now would be incredibly shortsighted. His value might be (although no right-thinking person would make this assessment) currently low after a challenging World Juniors, meaning any trade would not benefit the Maple Leafs. Giving up on him now would be selling him at a fraction of what he could be worth.

Even if Cowan messed up, and who says he did, he’s a young player still refining his game. He has the tools to succeed at the NHL level, but like many prospects, it takes time for those tools to translate. The Maple Leafs know this and are committed to letting him grow, so it’s silly to act as though his future is determined by two weeks of poor play.

The Bottom Line: The Maple Leafs Won’t Give Up on Cowan

The Maple Leafs still believe in Cowan’s potential. Despite any real or perceived struggles at the World Juniors, they’ve invested in his development and continue to view him as an essential piece for the future. Based on this short stretch, the organization has no reason to cut ties with him. No one in professional hockey leadership thinks this way! No one!

It’s nonsensical to consider trading Cowan after one bad tournament (or one lousy play or mistake in any game). He remains a key piece of the team’s future, and the organization knows that. Instead of writing him off, it’s time to look at the long-term picture and allow Cowan the space to develop into the player he’s capable of becoming.

So, when you read that the Maple Leafs decided to stay the course with him, chalk that up to logic. Any other landing space is wrong-minded or shaped by someone interested in stirring the pot for no good reason. Ain’t happening!

Related: Former Maple Leafs Goalie Finds Fresh Start in Finland