.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
Toronto Maple Leafs fans are made at head coach Craig Berube and the rest of the decision makers.
Specifically, they're not happy with how the Leafs have handled promising rookie Easton Cowan this season.
The latest ire arrived Wednesday, when news emerged that Cowan would be a healthy scratch for Toronto's first game back from the Olympic break, which is in Tampa Bay against the Lightning.
Cowan is the main source of young talent for Leafs fans to hope on, at least as far as they've seen at the NHL level. But Toronto isn't giving Cowan much chance to shine.
He hasn't played in an NHL game since Jan. 29, when he was on the ice for just 9 minutes and 44 seconds. Cowan hasn't played in any game since then.
"27 days without game action for your rookie in a season that is most likely lost... great asset management," wrote Leafs analyst Zack Phillips on X.
MORE: Sidney Crosby breaks silence on injury, Olympics and rest of Penguins' season
The Maple Leafs also oddly handled Cowan before the Olympic break in another way.
If an NHL player played in 15 or fewer of the last 20 games before the break, they could be sent down to the NHL. The Leafs played Cowan in 17 out of 20.
That guaranteed they couldn't send him down to the AHL to get game action during the break.
Maybe they felt Cowan would be better served with an extended rest and recharge, but if that's what they felt, then they'd have him active to play on Wednesday night.
Instead, none of the behaviors here line up with what a team should be doing with a prized prospect.
If Cowan doesn't pan out, the Maple Leafs certainly didn't do him any recent favors.
More NHL news:
- Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs now forced to face tough reality
- Jack Hughes has forever changed his value
- Zach Werenski made 'the play before The Play'
- Connor Hellebuyck has changed his story forever
- Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
- Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future
English (US)