Toronto Maple Leafs assistant captain John Tavares recently expressed his admiration and encouragement for Easton Cowan, a promising prospect for the team, following Canada’s elimination from the World Junior Championship. This marked the second consecutive year that Cowan and Team Canada fell short in the tournament. Tavares, who previously secured back-to-back World Junior Championship titles with Canada in 2008 and 2009, empathized with the 19-year-old’s situation and offered words of wisdom.
Tavares highlighted Cowan’s potential, saying the young player is poised to have a significant impact on the Maple Leafs and the hockey world in the future. He remarked, “Easton’s got tremendous potential and is going to play a significant role with the team and the club for a long time and be a very good player. It’s not easy for him or any of the players who had the chance to represent Canada and play on home soil, especially when the outcome didn’t align with their aspirations.”
Facing sharp criticism from fans after Canada’s underwhelming performance, Cowan has been urged by Tavares to view this adversity as an opportunity for growth. Reflecting on his own experiences with challenges, Tavares noted, “Every player goes through adversity at different points in their career. It’s an opportunity to grow, improve, and learn. He’ll be surrounded by a lot of great people, including us here, who support him tremendously.”
🇨🇦🚨🎙️ John Tavares on Easton Cowan and Team Canada and what Cowan can learn and grow from:
“I’m not online looking at it all or hearing about it or watching it and all that. But I have, obviously, a good idea of what the spotlight is like, playing at the World Juniors, playing… pic.twitter.com/HybTAffqer
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) January 4, 2025
Canada’s exit came at the hands of Czechia, marking the second year in a row the Czech team eliminated them. The Canadian squad also struggled during the group stage, with losses to Latvia and the United States, leading to widespread disappointment.
Despite the outcome, Cowan performed well individually, scoring one goal and providing two assists, which tied him for the best record among Canadian players in the tournament.
Sportsnet analyst Elliott Friedman also weighed in on Cowan’s potential during a radio appearance. Friedman acknowledged the young player’s recent struggles but criticized those who are prematurely dismissing him. “Cowan had a tough couple of weeks, but it’s absurd to give up on a player like him based on that short period,” Friedman stated. He added that trading Cowan now would not only undervalue his potential but also be a poor decision for the organization, given the high regard in which the team holds him.
Cowan will now return to the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) to complete the 2024-25 season. While he participated in the Maple Leafs’ preseason games, he was reassigned to the London Knights before the start of the regular NHL season.