Easton Cowan: Stats, Contract, Parents, and NHL Future

Few hockey prospects generate as much conversation as a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick. Easton Cowan, selected 28th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, has turned that opportunity into a rapid rise — from OHL Player of the Year to signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Leafs in September 2024. Here’s a grounded look at his career milestones, family background, and what comes next.

League: NHL ·
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs ·
Position: Forward ·
Date of Birth: May 20, 2005 ·
Height: 5’11” ·
Weight: 185 lbs

Six key identifiers, one pattern: Cowan’s profile fits the modern two-way forward — size, production, and a family connection to NHL grit.

Will Easton Cowan Play for the Leafs Next Year?

Current Contract Status

Cowan signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 21, 2024, as announced by the club (NHL.com official team release). The deal, which Sportsnet confirmed was a standard three-year entry-level pact, kicks in for the 2025-26 season. For the current 2024-25 campaign, Cowan was returned to the OHL to continue his development with the London Knights.

Development Timeline

NHL.com reports that the Leafs intend for Cowan to compete for a full-time roster spot in the 2025-26 season. His trajectory — from OHL Player of the Year to signed prospect — mirrors the path of other recent first-round forwards who spent one post-draft season in junior before pushing for NHL ice time. The implication: Cowan’s camp performance next fall will determine whether he starts in Toronto or with the AHL Marlies.

How Much Money Does Easton Cowan Make?

Entry-Level Contract Value

As a first-round pick, Cowan’s entry-level contract carries an average annual value of approximately $950,000 at the NHL level, consistent with the rookie salary cap for players drafted in his range. The contract includes performance bonuses, though specific bonus thresholds were not disclosed by the club (NHL.com official team release).

Salary Cap Hit

Sportsnet noted that the exact terms were not publicly released, but the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement sets a maximum base salary for entry-level contracts in the first two years. If Cowan plays in the AHL instead of the NHL, his salary drops to the minor-league rate — a standard provision in entry-level deals. The trade-off: his cap hit is manageable, giving the Leafs flexibility while he develops.

Who Are Easton Cowan’s Parents?

Mother and Father

Easton Cowan’s mother is Megan Cowan and his father is Chris Cowan, according to the NHLPA player profile. The family resides in Mount Brydges, Ontario, a small community west of London. Chris Cowan played hockey at the junior level, providing an early foundation for Easton’s own career.

Family Athletic Background

In a feature published by NHL.com, Cowan’s family revealed a surprising connection: he shares the same great-grandparents as Darren McCarty, the four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings. Cowan told NHL.com, “My parents tell me about him and what he did and stuff. I want to be a player that knows how to win.” That lineage — a direct link to a gritty NHL champion — adds an intriguing narrative layer to his development.

What Is Easton Cowan’s Background?

Early Years and Junior Career

Born in Mount Brydges, Ontario, on May 20, 2005, Cowan began his OHL career with the London Knights in the 2021-22 season (NHLPA player profile). The Toronto Maple Leafs selected him in the first round, 28th overall, of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft (NHL.com Maple Leafs player page). His rapid ascent through the Knights organization made him one of the most watched prospects in the league.

OHL Dominance

In the 2023-24 OHL season, Cowan recorded 34 goals and 62 assists for 96 points in 54 games, earning him OHL Player of the Year, OHL Playoff MVP, and a spot on the OHL First All-Star Team (NHL.com Maple Leafs player page). He was also named to the OHL Second All-Star Team in 2025, according to the same page. That level of production — nearly two points per game in junior — signals a player who has outgrown the league.

What Are Easton Cowan’s Career Stats?

OHL Regular Season Stats

• 2023-24 OHL season: 34 goals, 62 assists, 96 points in 54 games (NHL.com Maple Leafs player page)
• His OHL playoff run in 2024 included multiple multi-point games en route to the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

NHL Debut Stats

Cowan has not yet played an NHL regular season game. He participated in the 2024 NHL Prospect Tournament and has been assigned to the OHL for the 2024-25 season. His first professional action will come after he turns pro, likely in the 2025-26 season.

The pattern: Cowan’s junior numbers are elite, but his NHL stat line remains a blank slate.

Is Number 69 Banned in the NHL?

League Policy on Jersey Numbers

The NHL does not officially ban number 69, but the league strongly discourages its use due to potential vulgar connotations. According to the NHL’s uniform regulations, the league retains final approval over all jersey numbers. No player has ever worn number 69 in an NHL game.

Historical Context

The NHL’s policy on controversial numbers has been consistent for decades: numbers that could be considered offensive or distracting are not approved. While number 69 has never been formally prohibited, the league’s implicit veto power has effectively kept it off the ice. For a young player like Cowan, who wore number 59 in juniors, the question is moot — his number choice will be a routine decision when he reaches the NHL.

Timeline: Easton Cowan’s Hockey Journey

• May 20, 2005 — Born in Mount Brydges, Ontario (NHLPA player profile)
• 2021-22 season — Begins OHL career with the London Knights
• June 28, 2023 — Selected by Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, 28th overall (NHL.com Maple Leafs player page)
• 2023-24 season — Wins OHL Player of the Year and OHL Playoff MVP (NHL.com Maple Leafs player page)
• September 21, 2024 — Signs three-year entry-level contract (NHL.com official team release)

What’s Confirmed and What’s Still Unclear

Confirmed facts

• Cowan signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL.com official team release)
• He was OHL Player of the Year for 2024 (NHL.com Maple Leafs player page)
• His parents are Megan and Chris Cowan (NHLPA player profile)
• He is from Mount Brydges, Ontario (NHLPA player profile)
• He was born May 20, 2005 (NHLPA player profile)

What’s still unclear

• Exact date of his NHL debut is not yet set
• Whether he will secure a Leafs roster spot in 2025-26 depends on training camp performance
• Details about a sibling — including his brother’s name — are not publicly verified

“I want to be a player that knows how to win.”

— Easton Cowan, in an NHL.com interview on his family link to Darren McCarty

The organization is very excited about his development and the way he’s progressed since being drafted.

— Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving, via NHL.com official team release

For Leafs management, the choice is clear: either Cowan earns a spot on the NHL roster out of training camp in 2025, or he spends another season in the AHL honing his game. The pressure is on, but the ceiling is high.

Frequently asked questions