Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan notably got some top results in the OHL’s 2023–24 Coaches Poll for his season performance, which of course included his 36-game point streak.
In the poll, 20 different skill categories are voted on for players in each of the Western and Eastern Conferences. First, second, and third place votes receive five points, three points, and one point, respectively.
Ironically, despite the point streak, Cowan finished third in the Western Conference for the categories of Best Skater and Best Defensive Forward, which had nothing to do with the point streak at all. Let’s be real, that point streak is worthy of acknowledgment on its own and doesn’t need voting from coaches to validate!
Below are the results for Cowan and how he placed.
Best Skater
| Player | OHL Team | NHL Draft Status | Poll Points Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Peer | Flint Firebirds | Undrafted | 33 |
| Jett Luchanko | Guelph Storm | 2024 NHL Draft Eligible | 19 |
| Easton Cowan | London Knights | 2023 28th Overall Pick (TOR) | 13 |
Oliver Peer ran away with the votes on this one, earning 33 out of a possible 45 points. Cowan’s third-place finish is still very impressive as his skating definitely elevates his game and is a big reason why he was practically able to will his point streak to continue game after game.
Best Defensive Forward
| Player | OHL Team | NHL Draft Status | Poll Points Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matyas Sapovaliv | Saginaw Spirit | 2022 48th OV (VGK) | 27 |
| Owen Allard | Soo Greyhounds | 2024 NHL Draft Eligible | 23 |
| Easton Cowan | London Knights | 2023 28th OV (TOR) | 14 |
The votes for this were a bit tighter between Matyas Sapovaliv and Owen Allard, with Cowan being a more distant third. However, his two-way play clearly got noticed by other coaches in the league as they saw enough of his defensive prowess from the bench to vote for him, while also seeing his name show up on the scoreboard against their teams more often than not.
What’s next for Cowan
Cowan and the Knights are currently up 3–0 in Round 1 of the 2024 OHL Playoffs against the Flint Firebirds. The Knights will go for the sweep on Thursday. So far in the playoffs, Cowan has already put up two goals and two assists in the first three games.
The Knights are favourites in the playoffs as they were the top team in the regular season. Cowan will be a key contributor in this playoff run as he continues to build on his career. Getting the votes for different aspects of his play away from his offence will be a great boost in confidence for the forward.
