Maple Leafs announce 1st contract for Easton Cowan

Ink has officially been put to paper.

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the 2023 NHL Draft with the 28 overall selection, and while there was some speculation that they could perhaps move the pick in a trade to try and move up, they instead stood pat and announced Easton Cowan from the London Knights as the newest member of their organization.

And today, it was announced that Cowan has agreed to his first professional contract, a three year entry level deal.

You can bet that he's heard some of the doubts expressed by fans and media over his selection by the Leafs, but he hit back at them in a perfectly professional way.

"People want to call it a reach, they can call it a reach. It's their opinion and it is what it is," he said during an interview with The London Free Press this week. They don't think I'm that good, so be it. It's not my problem. I'm just going to focus on myself and try to stay positive. You're in those lights now, so people will hate on whatever you do in life. That's what it comes down to now, so I use it as fuel. I kind of laugh it off. I'm going to do what I love to do and that's compete, have fun and try to win."

Recommended articles:

Maple Leafs announce 1st contract for Easton Cowan

Ryan Reaves receives multi-game suspension from NHL Player Safety.

NHL Player Safety makes early announcement regarding Ryan Reaves.

Ryan Reaves ejected after destroying Darnell Nurse.