Why Easton Cowan should be in Maple Leafs lineup, not healthy scratch

Easton Cowan was in line to be a healthy scratch for the Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

Again.

As the Leafs resumed play after the Christmas break against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena, that would mark three games in a row for the 20-year-old as a press-box spectator.

Cowan has to be playing, and we don’t mean for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. He belongs in the National Hockey League and having him watch games from above does nothing for his development.

Coach Craig Berube is sticking with the lineup that put together a 6-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, a victory that kept the Leafs out of the Eastern Conference basement.

Cowan and veteran Calle Jarnkrok were the extra forwards as the Leafs held a full morning skate on Saturday.

We asked Berube about the balance he’s trying to maintain as it relates to playing Cowan or keeping the rookie in civilian clothes.

“We won last game … just be patient,” Berube said after the Leafs skate on Saturday morning. “We definitely do not want him sitting out too long.

“That’s not good for his growth. I think he helps us. I think he’s a good player and he’s only going to get better.”

There’s a chance that Cowan could return on Sunday in Detroit against the Red Wings as the Leafs complete a back-to-back set. We don’t think he should have come out in the first place.

What’s more, the Leafs are trying to revamp their last-place power play with the promotion of Steve Sullivan to assistant coach following the firing of Marc Savard. Cowan has the offensive chops to be part of the second power-play unit, at the least, and perhaps he gets a look there at some point.

Handling it well

Cowan is handling his benching well.

“I control what I can control and that’s working hard each day,” Cowan told Postmedia on Saturday morning. “I had a good break with family and friends. Got home (to Mount Brydges, Ont.), took two full days off.

“Whenever I get days off, I try not to think about the game. Right now, during this stretch, I keep trying to get better.”

When he has been in the Leafs lineup, Cowan has contributed 11 points (four goals and seven assists) in 26 games. There have been mistakes made that come with being an NHL freshman, but on the whole, Cowan has not been a liability. He should be allowed to play through the good and the bad. It’s the best way for him to learn.

That Cowan has averaged 14 minutes 45 seconds a game of ice time tells us that the coaching staff does have confidence in him. It’s not like he has been playing seven or eight minutes a night. Had that been the case, then for sure, get him down to the Marlies and have him play more minutes.

Put it this way — do forwards such as Max Domi or Matias Maccelli bring more defensive awareness than Cowan does?

Yes, the Leafs are going to be in a fight for a playoff spot for the rest of the season, in all likelihood.

Past experiences

At the junior level, Cowan played through different levels of pressure, whether it was excelling as the London Knights won the Memorial Cup last spring (and earning tournament MVP honours) or coming up short with Canada at the past two world junior championships.

Trying to help beat the Senators on Saturday night in late December, if not the Red Wings 24 hours later, isn’t something that would faze the youngster. That the games are must-wins, more or less, for the Leafs, wouldn’t cause Cowan to grip his stick any tighter.

“I think the coaching staff is doing a good job communicating with him and has an understanding of his experience through it all,” Leafs centre John Tavares said. “He has a good head on his shoulders and a good sense of who he is as a player.

“He has such strong self-belief in who he is and how he plays. I don’t see him get into a game and sense panic or frustration.

“We have a really good one in him and not just the way he can play the game, but his approach, his mindset is a big part of it.”

If Cowan gets back into the lineup on Sunday, leave him there going forward. The player and the Leafs would be better off for it.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun