Maple Leafs send Easton Cowan to AHL’s Toronto Marlies
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Wednesday that they have sent forward Easton Cowan down to their AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies.
Maple Leafs F Easton Cowan has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
F Scott Laughton has been activated from IR.
In a corresponding move, the Leafs have activated veteran forward Scott Laughton off of injured reserve to make his season debut on Wednesday night at home against the Utah Mammoth.
Cowan, the team’s first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft at No. 28 overall, made his NHL debut earlier this season and appeared in 10 games during his time with the big club. The 20-year-old from Ontario scored a goal and added three assists for four points while skating to a plus-1 rating.
When Cowan first suits up for the Marlies, he’ll be making his debut in the AHL. Cowan finished up his major junior career last season with the London Knights, where he posted 69 points in 46 games played. Cowan cemented himself as a top-flight prospect the year prior when he racked up 96 points in 54 games before going on a tear in the postseason to the tune of 34 points in 18 appearances.
Toronto’s depth at forward and Cowan’s waiver-exempt status make him an easy choice to be the one to go to accommodate Laughton, but there’s little doubt that he’ll get another chance at some point this season.
Laughton, who spent his entire career with the Philadelphia Flyers before getting moved to Toronto at last year’s trade deadline, had 4 points in his 20 games last year as a member of the Leafs.
The veteran is projected to slot in as the team’s fourth line center between Steven Lorentz and Max Domi.
Toronto is in the midst of a four-game homestead that got started with a dramatic 4-3 win over Pittsburgh on Monday in which the Leafs rallied to erase a 3-0 deficit.
The Mammoth bring a 9-4-0 record to Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, while the Leafs will look to improve upon their 7-5-1 mark.