With Mitch Marner's recent move to Vegas, Easton Cowan, a rising star in the Toronto Maple Leafs' system, is seizing the opportunity to carve out his role on the NHL roster. The 20-year-old prospect, who recently celebrated success winning back-to-back Memorial Cups with the London Knights, acknowledges the importance of Marner as a mentor but is now focusing on his own development.

Cowan believes he can step up in Marner's absence and is committed to showcasing his skills during the next few months before the season begins. Despite a slight dip in his scoring from last season, Cowan's performance in the playoffs is promising, and he aims to leverage this momentum to secure a spot in Toronto.