"Just with him playing his game as he has been playing, he is a guy who is good down low in the offensive zone. We're looking to get that line some more possession down there and some more plays. He does that stuff. He is a great hounder, too. He gets on top of things, is strong on pucks, and hangs onto pucks. That is why I made the switch."
"He's obviously a hungry guy. He has wanted to play; that is obvious. He works hard, is prepared, and has done a really good job of all of that stuff. He has stayed positive; he wanted to play, but we just didn't get him into the first two games. Now, he has an opportunity. He has been really good in practice, worked really hard, and has been focused."
"When I watched him in camp and in the games, I thought he did a good job defensively. He is a smart player with a good IQ. You can see when watching him practice, seeing his reads, and where he is positioned in the defensive zone. He is like anybody else, but he has a good hockey IQ. He reads plays well and anticipates well. That is one of the reasons why I put him there."
Practice lines placed Easton Cowan on the top-line right wing with Matthews and Knies. The lineup change aims to boost possession and create more low-zone plays by adding a puck-strong, tenacious presence. Cowan has shown hunger, strong preparation, consistent work in practice, and a positive attitude while awaiting an NHL opportunity. Cowan demonstrated good defensive awareness, strong reads, and sound positioning in camp and early games, indicating reliable defensive IQ. Calle Jarnkrok appears in the bottom-six rotation, and the club recognizes the need to clean up execution and consistency after a 1-1-0 start.
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