Leafs announce big changes, veteran defenseman announces retirement and rookie Easton Cowan makes the team

Earlier today Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving made the announcement that defenseman Jake Muzzin has joined the team as a professional scout, while former goaltender Curtis McElhinney has joined the team as a goaltending consultant.

From the Leafs' press release announcement:

Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving announced today that Curtis McElhinney has been hired as the Director of Goaltending Development and Scouting, Jake Muzzin has been named a Pro Scout and Chris Bourque will assume a new role as a College Free Agent Scout.

McElhinney joins the Maple Leaf’s staff following a 16-year career in professional hockey. The 40-year-old suited up in 249 regular season NHL games split between the Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, the Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, Phoenix Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames, captured two Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay (2020 and 2021) and represented Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.

Muzzin originally joined the Maple Leafs in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings in January of 2019. In 683 regular season games between Los Angeles and Toronto, the Woodstock, Ontario, native recorded 294 points (69 goals, 225 assists) while adding 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) through 72 career playoff games. Muzzin won the 2014 Stanley Cup with Los Angeles and helped Canada capture gold medals at the at the 2015 IIHF World Championship and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Bourque joined the Maple Leafs’ scouting staff in the 2022-23 season after a 17-year playing career.

- Toronto Maple Leafs

For the record, Muzzin will still be placed on long-term injury reserve and his $5.625 million salary will NOT count against the salary cap for the team this upcoming season.

The Leafs also announced that forwards Nicholas Robertson and Pontus Holmberg have been cut from the team and assigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

This means that 18 year old Easton Cowan of Strathroy, Ontario has made the Leafs' roster for now. It's expected that Cowan will play Wednesday night against the Montreal Canadiens, but his long-term fate with the team is not yet known. He's ineligible to join the AHL's Marlies and would be assigned to the OHL's London Knights if he can't remain on the Leafs' roster. Stay tuned.