Mitch Marner's crucial advice for Easton Cowan reveals veteran's leadership beyond his own career

The Toronto Maple Leafs may have moved on from Mitch Marner this summer after his blockbuster trade to the Vegas Golden Knights , but the star forward hasn’t distanced himself from his roots. Instead, Marner has continued to stay connected with the team’s future, including top prospect Easton Cowan , who endured one of the most challenging yet rewarding seasons of his young career.

Mitch Marner’s guidance proves pivotal for Easton Cowan

Easton Cowan’s 2024-25 journey was anything but smooth. The 20-year-old started the year struggling to match his offensive spark from the 2023-24 campaign with the London Knights. A failed bid for gold at the World Junior Championship in December added to the frustration. For most prospects, such setbacks can feel crushing. But Cowan’s story took a different turn, and Mitch Marner had a quiet role in that.

🚨🎙️ Former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner on Easton Cowan’s outstanding 24-25 playoff performance, leading the way for London en route to their memorable cup victory:

"Like I said, I was talking to him a lot throughout the year, just checking in and making sure he was staying in the… pic.twitter.com/1obKt2vptI

— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) August 27, 2025

Marner revealed that he stayed in touch with Cowan throughout the year, urging him to focus on the joy of playing rather than the pressure of results. “Just play your game, have fun with it and let the chips fall as they may,” was the advice Marner shared. Those words, coming from a player Cowan has long admired, resonated deeply. They carried weight during a season where resilience defined Cowan’s growth.

By the spring, his fortunes flipped. Cowan not only secured back-to-back OHL titles with the Knights but also lifted the Memorial Cup and walked away as Playoff MVP. It was vindication after months of grinding through adversity—a reminder that setbacks often shape champions more than victories do.

What lies ahead for Easton Cowan after Mitch Marner’s mentorship

Now, with his junior career etched into history, Cowan faces his next big challenge: cracking the professional stage. Whether he begins in the AHL or earns a spot with the Maple Leafs in training camp, his confidence has grown. Cowan himself has declared that he’s ready to fight for an NHL role, drawing from both the lessons of his struggles and the encouragement of a role model like Marner.

For Marner, who continues to represent Canada on the world stage, his mentorship of Cowan highlights how the bond between past and present Knights players runs deep. And for Cowan, the message was simple yet transformative—sometimes, believing in yourself requires first hearing it from someone who has walked the same path.

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