Maple Leafs development camp: Cowan impresses, Minten and Niemela ready for jump

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs held their annual development camp for prospects this week, culminating in a scrimmage, where Team White defeated Team Blue 4-1 at the Ford Performance Centre on Saturday.

Here’s what you need to know about all the key developments from this week, including a progress report on 2023 first-round pick Easton Cowan and other standouts.

Cowan makes a fine first impression

Easton Cowan is doing everything he can to destroy preconceived notions about him and his suitability to the professional level. He’s a few years away from contributing to the Maple Leafs, but he aced his first impression test throughout the development camp.

Cowan was widely regarded as a reach with the 28th overall pick in last month’s draft, but he certainly looked the part of a first-round selection during this week’s camp. He was universally lauded for his tenacity and plus-skating prior to the draft and those qualities were on clear display. Cowan is relentless in his puck pursuit, he takes intelligent angles while tracking back and he’s clearly able to think the game at a professional level.

The 18-year-old was paired alongside Nicholas Moldenhauer and Ty Voit throughout the week. Cowan, Moldenhauer and Voit generated a ton of scoring chances throughout Saturday’s scrimmage and the Maple Leafs were sufficiently impressed with Team White’s first line.

“Those guys, Nick and Ty have been to development camps before,” Maple Leafs assistant general manager Hayley Wickenheiser said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “They're veterans of the environment. Easton coming in with a lot of attention, your highest draft pick. You expect those guys to dominate and lead the way. I thought today they played well as a line, created a lot of chances. It's one game, you're not evaluating much or anything. It's a long game with these guys so you're looking at the progression through the week and where they are right now and we have to evaluate them as the season goes on and their careers develop.

“I think Easton came in and had a really good week. I like the way he plays the game with a lot of passion and energy and agitating out there. Him and John Fusco going at it a little bit early on was good to see. You want to compete. Good for him for doing that and Nick Moldenhauer continues to elevate his game as well.”

Cowan’s relative lack of production at the minor hockey and major junior levels was concerning in that it wasn’t commensurate with the stature of the 28th overall pick. It’s clear that the Maple Leafs believe that Cowan’s playoff production — 21 points in 20 games with the OHL’s London Knights — is the truer barometer of his offensive ability. Cowan was the best player on the ice Monday, with a bardown highlight-reel shot to cap off the on-ice events.

“It's pretty funny, obviously,” Cowan said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “Me and Voit got that rivalry, he plays for (Sarnia) Sting, I play for the (London) Knights. He's a great playmaker, he sees the ice really well. Molds is really good up the middle there. We kept really well, we had a lot of chances that we couldn't bury but we got the win so that's all that matters."

It wasn’t a perfect camp. Cowan, like most 18-year-olds, needs to add weight to his frame. In one of his final shifts of Thursday’s scrimmage, Cowan burst down the right wing but he was muscled off the puck quite easily by forward Ryan Tverberg. He also got rocked on an open-ice hit from Albin Sundin during the first period of Saturday’s scrimmage, but recovered quickly.

Cowan should light up the OHL next season and if he continues to add weight to his frame, he has the potential to become one of the best Maple Leafs prospects in recent memory. Many fans bristled at Cowan’s selection last month, but he aced his first impression with the Maple Leafs.

Moldenhauer’s speed and opportunism will translate to the NHL

It was a tie between Cowan and his linemate Moldenhauer for camp MVP, with standout performances from Fraser Minten and Topi Niemela in the running. Moldenhauer showcased terrific speed, a relentless ability to work his way in the slot and constantly kept plays alive in the offensive zone. Moldenhauer recorded 30 goals and 75 points in 55 games for the USHL’s Chicago Steel last season, playing alongside presumptive 2024 first overall pick Macklin Celebrini and will be heading to Michigan (NCAA) next fall.

“It was awesome,” Moldenhauer said Saturday afternoon of his experience playing with Cowan and Voit. “I think Easton and I bonded from the first day. We were roommates and I've never met him before. We were watching Suits together, kinda just having a good time the first night. He's a great kid and I had a great time getting to know him as well as (Voit), I know from last year, he's an awesome dude.”

Moldenhauer, Cowan and Voit didn’t record a goal during the scrimmage, but the 19-year-old from nearby Mississauga made himself available for outlet passes, generated two high-danger scoring chances in the first period and narrowly missed a breakaway. He missed another key chance in the second period, flying in with tremendous speed, but missed the net. In the third period, Moldenhauer outraced his Team Blue opponents, found Voit in front of the net but Samuel St-Hilaire robbed him with a fantastic glove save, the best save of the week.

"It was really fun playing with the two of those guys, both unreal players," Moldenhauer said. "Considering it's development camp and it's hard to build a whole lot of chemistry, I thought we were really, really good together and built a lot of chemistry.

“I think for me, my favourite aspects were being able to play with those guys who really elevate their game, I think that helps elevate mine as well. They're pushing me and I'm pushing them and the three of us together, we were developing at a high rate all week and I think it's mainly because we were pushing each other all week too.”

Moldenhauer told reporters he looked up to Phil Kessel growing up. It’s not an exact comparison, but Moldenhauer’s ability to play center or wing, along with his speed and point production certainly emulates the best of Kessel’s qualities.

Voit needs to continue add strength to reach potential

Ty Voit led the OHL with 81 assists and finishing second in league scoring with 105 points in 67 games. Voit is an excellent playmaker and his creativity was on display throughout the week, especially when paired with Cowan and Moldenhauer.

There’s nothing Voit can do about his diminutive stature, measuring at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, but he said he’s constantly in the gym trying to bulk up.

The 20-year-old was in a great mood and told reporters Thursday that he’s looking to improve upon how he reacts after contact.

“I'd say being able to use my body a little bit to push off of guys," Voit said. "Not getting flat-footed as much. I find that maybe last year, I'd take a little bump and then lose my footing a little bit, kind of figure out where I'm going.

"But now, I know how to take that contact, I know where I'm going after it, I know I'm accelerating into the spot."

Voit will likely begin next season with the AHL’s Marlies and it’ll be compelling to see whether his prolific production in the OHL translates to the professional level. If this week’s camp is any indication, Voit’s playmaking ability should hold up well, while being somewhat limited as a shooter.

Minten and Niemela are the most pro-ready prospects

Fraser Minten may have surpassed Roni Hirvonen as the Maple Leafs’ most pro-ready forward. Hirvonen earned glowing marks from Wickenheiser on Monday, but his progress was cast into doubt during Saturday’s scrimmage. Minten was paired with Hirvonen throughout the scrimmage and scored Team Blue’s lone goal. The difference is minuscule, but Minten made a stronger impression with his superior spatial awareness.

One of the resounding themes of this week’s camp was watching players try to make plays at high-speed. A lot of turnovers were generated by lesser-name prospects trying to accelerate with the puck through the neutral zone. Minten picked his spots well, particularly when closing out in the defensive zone to win back pucks. He was the lone constant offensive force for Team Blue during Saturday’s scrimmage and Toronto’s second-round pick from 2022 may be graduating to the big leagues sooner than anticipated if he continues at this rate of development. Minten is expected to return to the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, where he’ll surely contend for league scoring title.

Niemela is Toronto’s most pro-ready prospect overall and it won’t be a surprise if he gets a NHL call-up some time in the near future. He continued to make smart plays at his own pace, he wasn’t flashy but he wasn’t fazed by the quality of opponents throughout the camp. Niemela facilitated an excellent scrimmage alongside partner Mike Koster and Team White’s top pairing continuously broke up chances with relative ease.

Niemela was paired with Jordie Benn in his 11 games with the AHL’s Marlies next year. It’ll be compelling to see how he develops in the AHL, as he was simply too good for the competition in development camp.