Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan claps back at haters

There were not many people who anticipated that this would be the very first selection in an NHL Draft by new Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving. 

Toronto 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 there was more than a few negative reactions spreading across social media, with many Leafs fans expressing puzzlement at the selection. 

But you can bet that Cowan himself is aware of his doubters, and he's got something to say to them.

"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."

Honestly, that's exactly the kind of attitude that this kid who is about to enter the lions den of media needs to be displaying. Tune out the negative noise, focus on your game, and play to the best of your abilities - it's really all that one can reasonably ask of a prospect drafted into the NHL.

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