The 2024 World Junior Championships roster was just announced and the Toronto Maple Leafs' two best prospects have made the roster!
Cowan and Minten were among the 12 forwards selected for the team and will be playing alongside a lot of top talent including Matthew Savoie, the 9th overall pick in 2022, and Macklin Celebrini, the projected 1st overall pick for 2024.
Since being drafted by the Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2023 draft, Easton Cowan has exploded in terms of production and has emerged as the London Knights' top forward. In 23 games, Cowan has scored 12 goals and 39 points. While he is second in team scoring, Cowan has played five fewer games than the leader and is only two points behind. In addition to his 39 points, Cowan has added 35 PIMs.
Fraser Minten on the other hand is a year older than Cowan as he was a 2022 draft pick. The 2004-born forward was drafted 38th overall by the Leafs and has since gone on to prove himself amongst the most elite prospects in the NHL.
He started the year with a 4 game stint in the NHL which is encouraging for any 19-year-old prospect. He then went back to Kamloops of the WHL where he captained his team for 7 games, notching 10 points, before getting traded to Saskatoon. Since joining Saskatoon, Minten has scored five points in six games while playing in an entirely new system with new teammates.
Best of luck to the two Maple Leafs prospects as they look to bring home the gold for Canada!
POLL | ||
Will Team Canada win the 2024 WJCs? | ||
Yes | 491 | 76.5 % |
No | 151 | 23.5 % |
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