"One of main consequences in being a perennial contender like the Toronto Maple Leafs have been for almost the past decade is the fact that they often have to sacrifice many of their draft picks and young players to maintain the contending makeup of their roster. In doing so, the Maple Leafs saw many of those promising assets traded away over the years."
"As a result, Toronto entered the 2025-26 season without a first-round draft pick for the 2026 and 2027 NHL Entry Draft. Which means if the Maple Leafs want to pull off any big move before the trade deadline this year, they will likely need to part with a top prospect that they preciously own and developed. In terms of their best trade chip that they currently have, that honour without question falls on the shoulders of the young Easton Cowan."
Toronto sacrificed numerous draft picks and young players over nearly a decade to sustain a contending roster, leaving no first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. Any significant trade before the 2025-26 deadline would likely require surrendering a top internal prospect. Easton Cowan stands out as the Leafs' premier trade chip due to his high ceiling, improving maturity, and recent on-ice production. Cowan projects as a potential top-six forward and a "Mitch Marner-lite" replacement if development continues. Chemistry with Nicolas Roy and Nick Robertson, responsible puck play, and recent scoring have deepened Toronto's lines and elevated Cowan's importance.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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