Two Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects Selected for World Juniors Team
Two Toronto Maple Leafs prospects have been shortlisted for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships in Ottawa.
Easton Cowan has been named to Team Canada's preliminary roster, and Miroslav Holinka has been named to Czechia's roster. Both men are expected to play nig parts in the Maple Leafs future going forward so it's a great sign to see both players get a shot.
Final rosters aren't submitted yet for the tournament, but both players have strong cases to make their respective teams before the tournament's start on Boxing Day 2024.
Easton Cowan
Easton Cowan was the first round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, 28th overall and a lot of hype surrounded the potential he held even being a later round pick.
A childhood Leafs fan, Cowan is a member of a London Knights team that historically helped develop future top Leafs in Mitch Marner and Nazem Kadri. What helped Cowan's stock was a dominant OHL Playoffs for London, having 21 points in 20 games, a major boost from his 53 points in 68 games in 2022.
Seen as a surprise during the draft as no major outlet ranked Cowan in the first round, he quickly exploded last season with 34 goals, 62 assists, & 96 points in 54 games played for London, second in points per game in the OHL (1.78).
In the 2023-24 OHL Playoffs,Cowan would take his game on an even greater level, leading all skaters with 22 assists and 34 points in just 18 games for the Knights, along with an additional 10 goals as London were named OHL Champions, with Cowan winning Playoff MVP and regular season MVP as well.
Cowan would lead the CHL Memorial Cup in points with eight but London failed to defeat the host Saginaw Spirit after a heartbreak game winner from Saginaw's Josh Bloom with seconds remaining.
Cowan had been rewarded for his growth with a spot on Canada's World Juniors team last year, registering a goal and two points in five games for Team Canada in one of their worst finishes in the competition's history, losing in the quarterfinals 3-2 to Czechia.
Cowan currently has 14 goals and 25 points in 18 games for London.
Miroslav Holinka
Miroslav Holinka was a fifth round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, 151st overall who hasn't received the same hype as Cowan however is projected to be a solid piece of the Maple Leafs' future.
Holinka is a center currently playing with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL alongside fellow Czech talent Adam Jecho; also named to Czechia's U20 squad. Holinka is a product of the Ocelari Trinec Academy that helped develop quality NHL forwards such as David Krejci, Radek Faksa, & Martin Havlat.
I was quite positive on Holinka during the draft having watched him play in Czechia, ranking him 103rd, although I'm surprised he's two spots below fellow Czech Tomas Galvas.
My scouting report on Holinka from May 2024 :
One question is his puckhandling, more in terms of receiving passes. The puck seems to get a bit slippery when it comes to Holinka's stick, with him not looking like he has full control at times. Average defensively but does put in a passing effort. Not a high ceiling but could top out as a versatile bottom-six forward with PK2 responsibilities, should be able to stick at Center as well.
One notable absence for Toronto that could have been in consideration for a spot but has been left home, Canadian defenseman Noah Chadwick.
The Leafs 2023 6th rounder has been a key defenseman for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL and had played for Canada at the World Junior Summer Showcase, usually an honor that would gain a camp spot. While Chadwick was a longshot to make Team Canada, a bit of a surprise to see him passed up, even with the depth on Canada's left defense.
| POLL | ||
Will Easton Cowan and Miroslav Holinka make their World Juniors teams? | ||
