Easton Cowan and Ben Danford, former teammates who won the Calder Cup together, are now stepping aside as Gavin McKenna, the Leafs' first draft pick, takes center stage in pre-training camp. Despite McKenna's prominence, neither Cowan nor Danford express jealousy; they emphasize their excitement for working with new talent. Coach Jim Hiller confirmed McKenna’s second-line position and praised Cowan's performance during the first on-ice training session.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Easton Cowan and Ben Danford, former top prospects for the Toronto Maple Leafs, were overtaken by the team's 2023 first draft pick, Gavin McKenna. After leading the AHL Marlies to a Calder Cup win, both players saw their status change when the Leafs chose McKenna with the number one selection. Despite this shift, Cowan and Danford remain supportive of McKenna. During on-ice training sessions in August, Coach Jim Hiller confirmed that McKenna would start as the second-line left-winger alongside veterans John Tavares and William Nylander, indicating his immediate impact on the team's lineup.
Written for “Leafs Prospects Ranking Changes” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The last time winger Easton Cowan and defenceman Ben Danford were on the ice together in a game that mattered, one handed the other the Calder Cup.
asserted
one → matter → Cup
Cowan was loaned from the Maple Leafs to get post-season experience.
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Cowan → loan → experience
Danford was called up after his junior season ended.
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season → call → ?
“Winning is a privilege, that’s for sure,” Danford said.
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Danford → ’ → ?
The landscape around them changed over the summer, with the two supplanted as the organization’s top prospects when the Leafs drafted Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick.
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Leafs → change → pick
Now it’s the 18-year-old McKenna, not the 21-year-old Cowan or 20-year-old Danford, who is getting all the attention.
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who → ’ → attention
Does Cowan miss it?
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Cowan → miss → it
“Nope,” he said after the team’s first on-ice session Thursday.
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he → say → session
“I just go out there and play my game.
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I → go → game
“That’s not the case at all,” he said.
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he → ’ → ?
“Gavin and I hit it off and are really close.
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Gavin → hit → it
He’s a great guy.”
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He → ’ → ?
Leafs coach Jim Hiller ended the speculation about who plays where on the first day of on-ice training.
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who → end → training
McKenna landed the second-line left-winger’s role with John Tavares and William Nylander.
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McKenna → land → Tavares
“Feels good knowing that the staff has confidence in me in putting me with those types of player,” McKenna said.
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McKenna → feel → player
They’re both supersmart players.
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They → ’re → ?
John’s a workhorse and Willie is so skilled.”
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Willie → ’ → ?
McKenna impressed, beating Chris Tanev one-on-one.
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McKenna → impress → one
“I thought Tanev was going to contain him,” Hiller said.
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Hiller → think → him
“He had him in the corner.
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He → have → corner
But I saw (McKenna) just dance away and do a nice little backhand pass.”
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McKenna → see → pass
Captain Auston Matthews and winger Matthew Knies were joined by free-agent right winger Jack Roslovic on the top line.
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Matthews → join → line
“Auston really likes Rosie’s game,” Hiller said.
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Hiller → like → game
“He likes the skill, how he can complement him, carry the puck through the neutral zone.”
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he → like → zone
Cowan landed on the third line, with Nick Paul and Colton Sissons, but he’s far from an afterthought.
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he → land → afterthought
“You can say it’s a checking line, but I see it as more than that
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I → say → that
,” said Hiller.
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Hiller → say → ?
“That’s a line that should be able to play against the other team’s best players, but also push them offensively because those three can score goals.
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three → ’ → goals
“And Easton can be the straw that stirs the drink.”
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that → stir → drink
Hiller felt Cowan had an outstanding first day.
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Cowan → feel → day
“He made some plays with the puck, and he’s a puck hound,” the coach said.
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coach → make → puck
He’s got tremendous skill.
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He → get → skill
He’s all over the ice.”
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He → ’ → ice
Cowan had 11 goals and 18 assists in 66 games with the Leafs as a rookie.
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Cowan → have → rookie
Coach Craig Berube used him sparingly at first, often scratching him.
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Berube → use → him
Cowan’s game grew and he exploded in the AHL playoffs, with eight goals and 10 assists in 22 games.
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he → grow → games
“It was good to get some pro experience in the playoffs,” said Cowan, who checked in about five pounds heavier this season.
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who → get → playoffs
“I’m coming in with a bit more confidence.
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I → come → confidence
I feel bigger, stronger.
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I → feel → ?
I felt good today.
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I → feel → ?
…and 8 more, not listed.
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