NHL Analyst Picks Key Maple Leafs Player As Top Contract Extension Target and It’s Not Mitch Marner
In a year packed with uncertainty for the Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL analyst Arun Srinivasan has identified a surprising name as the top priority for a contract extension. Surprisingly, it’s not Mitch Marner.
Easton Cowan’s Impact Elevates His Standing Among Leafs Prospects
Instead of Marner, Srinivasan argues that an extension for Easton Cowan should be top priority for Toronto.
The buzz follows Cowan’s standout performance at the 2025 Memorial Cup, where he played a pivotal role in the London Knights’ 3-2 overtime win against the Moncton Wildcats. The 19-year-old registered two key assists, including a slick setup on Sam O’Reilly’s game-winning goal.
Easton Sweet Feet Cowan with the moves and the dish for the OT winner
— Rink Rat Report (@RinkRatReport) May 25, 2025
With the victory, Cowan continues to show the kind of poise and vision that make him one of the most promising assets for the Leafs.
While much of the attention in Leafland has centered on the futures of Marner and John Tavares, Cowan’s play is making a strong case for the Leafs to look toward the next generation.
Toronto has already gone through major shakeups: Brendan Shanahan’s departure, questions around the Core Four, and looming contract negotiations. With Cowan’s continued growth, the team may be looking to pivot toward youth.
Cowan’s playoff resume keeps growing. Already crowned OHL Playoff MVP and the London Knights’ all-time playoff scoring leader, Cowan is now making waves on the national stage. His latest assist, a spinning, no-look pass that led to the overtime winner, showed off the creativity that Leafs scouts have long admired.
Earlier in the game, Cowan also recorded a primary assist on Kasper Halttunen’s power-play goal. The Sharks 2023 second-round pick fired a one-timer off Cowan’s cross-ice feed, giving London a 2-1 lead in the second period. The play was a textbook example of Cowan’s awareness and timing, qualities Toronto values in a potential top-six forward.
In a recent interview, Cowan reflected on how far he’s come.
“I think I’ve really just rounded my game out well. A good 200-foot game,” he told TSN’s Mark Masters. “But just being able to manage the puck at different times of the game, and when to be risky and when not to be risky, and just getting pucks out, getting pucks in, I feel like I’ve matured my game a lot.”
The Leafs selected Cowan 28th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, and he’s quickly validated that choice. With the Memorial Cup offering a chance at redemption after last year’s loss in the final, Cowan seems determined to finish strong before possibly making the jump to the NHL.
Leafs Facing Key Offseason Decisions
While Cowan’s stock rises, the Leafs are still navigating major roster questions. Marner and Tavares are both entering the final year of their contracts. But unlike Tavares, who is reportedly engaged in early talks with the team, Marner’s future looks less certain. Toronto reportedly had a trade lined up at the deadline that would have sent Marner packing.
Marner declined to waive his no-move clause at the time, the upcoming free agent is expected to sign elsewhere this summer. Many project his salary into to $13 million range, and the Leafs are expected to let Marner walk away at that price.
Mitch Marner had this to say on his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs pic.twitter.com/uCGuw7xXkT
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 19, 2025
Cowan, meanwhile, is viewed as a fresh start. A talented, cost-effective player who could help reshape the Leafs’ identity. And despite the noise surrounding Marner’s future, Cowan’s respect for the veteran winger remains strong.
“I hear from him a lot. We text quite a bit, so it’s pretty cool,” Cowan told TSN. “He’s a great role model for me, and like I said, it’s pretty cool when he’s texting you, and it’s cool to win the same stuff he’s won.”
Whether or not they ever share a line in Toronto, Cowan appears poised to carve his own path in a Leafs sweater. If recent performances are any indication, that path could begin as early as next season.
