Elite Prospects ranked two Toronto Maple Leafs prospects among its Top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects. Easton Cowan, a 20-year-old winger, was placed at No. 50 and received high grades in passing and hockey sense, with strengths in motor, physical skills, and playmaking, especially creating off the half wall and down low. Cowan displayed some overshooting habits but projects to perform well at the professional level and could become a top-nine forward who draws penalties. Ben Danford, the Leafs' 2024 first-round defenseman from the Oshawa Generals, was placed at No. 91 and praised for physicality, stopping ability, breakouts, puck recoveries, and activating to facilitate teammates despite low point totals.
Easton Cowan doesn't have anything left to prove in the OHL, having won everything with the London Knights and pushed the limits of his game. The best parts of it are his motor, physical skills, and playmaking mind, particularly dominant creating off half wall and down low. Some bad habits, like overshooting, crept up in his play over the past season, but we expect that his brightest elements will shine in the professional game. He could become a top-nine forward for the Leafs with a knack for drawing penalties.
Ben Danford produced even fewer points this season, and his drop was even more pronounced in the playoffs. But points are not the right way to evaluate this defenceman. He's a stopping and breakout machine, denying every rush, engaging opponents, winning back pucks, and firing them to open teammates. While he's not a true creator offensively, he facilitates enough with his activation and passing that it's hard to believe he didn't score more. Smooth, physical, and smar
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