1 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:07,780 The Maple Leafs drop another game to 2 00:00:07,780 --> 00:00:09,800 an in division opponent and as 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,360 Easton Cowan deserve more ice time. 4 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:14,560 Hey everyone, welcome to Inside the Leafs. 5 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:16,579 Rob Wong, joined alongside by Toronto Sun, 6 00:00:16,579 --> 00:00:19,520 Maple Leafs writers Lance Hornby and Terry Kocian. 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,119 And guys, a tough one for the Maple Leafs on Saturday, 8 00:00:22,119 --> 00:00:24,020 losing to the Ottawa Senators, 9 00:00:24,020 --> 00:00:26,040 a game where they played two pretty good periods. 10 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,719 But the third period was a different story, 11 00:00:28,719 --> 00:00:30,920 with the senators pulling away and 12 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,660 picking up the two points in regulation. 13 00:00:33,660 --> 00:00:36,479 Of course, the line of Gavin McKenna, 14 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:38,960 John Tavares and William Nylander had, I guess, 15 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,840 a better night on the stat sheet in some ways, Terry, 16 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,959 but continues to be one line that a lot of 17 00:00:44,959 --> 00:00:46,679 people are pointing out just doesn't 18 00:00:46,679 --> 00:00:48,440 seem to be working for whatever reason. 19 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:49,799 When you've got an 18 year old, 20 00:00:49,799 --> 00:00:52,479 you've got an aging Centerman and William Nylander, 21 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:54,439 who on some nights you're not sure what you're 22 00:00:54,439 --> 00:00:56,780 going to get in the defensive end. 23 00:00:56,780 --> 00:00:58,680 Where do you go if you're Jim Hiller, 24 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:00,399 where you've got a couple of lines working in 25 00:01:00,399 --> 00:01:01,949 the first and third line and 26 00:01:01,949 --> 00:01:04,770 a second line that you desperately need to get going. 27 00:01:04,770 --> 00:01:06,890 Well, it's, you know, it's, 28 00:01:06,890 --> 00:01:09,330 it's a small sample size right through three games, 29 00:01:09,330 --> 00:01:11,350 but it's not encouraging like you're alluding to. 30 00:01:11,350 --> 00:01:13,650 Rob. Um, the line 31 00:01:13,650 --> 00:01:16,050 is getting buried more or less defensively, 32 00:01:16,050 --> 00:01:18,470 uh, giving up a lot of high danger chances. 33 00:01:18,470 --> 00:01:22,170 Um, you know, the most among the four lines and it's not 34 00:01:22,170 --> 00:01:24,329 even really close and 35 00:01:24,329 --> 00:01:26,070 offensively not doing a heck of a lot. 36 00:01:26,070 --> 00:01:28,189 You know, there was a play the other night against 37 00:01:28,189 --> 00:01:31,010 Ottawa where it stood out. 38 00:01:31,010 --> 00:01:32,850 Maybe because we just haven't seen much of it. 39 00:01:32,850 --> 00:01:35,610 Tavares spins off a defender deep in the Leafs zone. 40 00:01:35,610 --> 00:01:36,850 He crashes into the boards. 41 00:01:36,850 --> 00:01:38,130 Tavares takes the puck up the ice. 42 00:01:38,130 --> 00:01:39,609 There's a give and go with McKenna 43 00:01:39,609 --> 00:01:41,470 and there's a really good scoring opportunity. 44 00:01:41,470 --> 00:01:42,329 It kind of got you to 45 00:01:42,329 --> 00:01:43,489 your seat a bit and then you realize, 46 00:01:43,489 --> 00:01:45,910 wait a minute, this isn't happening with this line. 47 00:01:45,910 --> 00:01:48,069 And you know outside of that, 48 00:01:48,069 --> 00:01:51,270 what Lance first minute goal for Nylander in the opener. 49 00:01:51,270 --> 00:01:52,930 I mean, uh, which was a hell of a goal. 50 00:01:52,930 --> 00:01:54,710 There hasn't just there hasn't been that type 51 00:01:54,710 --> 00:01:56,730 of a flash from 88. 52 00:01:56,730 --> 00:02:00,520 So, uh, it's, it's a tough call for, uh. 53 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,100 Or maybe it's not a tough call 54 00:02:02,100 --> 00:02:04,420 for for, uh, coach Jim Hiller. 55 00:02:04,420 --> 00:02:06,059 Maybe we'll see at practice today that there have 56 00:02:06,059 --> 00:02:07,980 been some changes or he sticks with it. 57 00:02:07,980 --> 00:02:10,959 But, you know, um, 58 00:02:10,959 --> 00:02:13,580 McKenna to, to him, like, listen, 59 00:02:13,580 --> 00:02:14,699 I know there's a lot of adjustment 60 00:02:14,699 --> 00:02:15,959 going on and everything, but, 61 00:02:15,959 --> 00:02:18,739 you know, and we've seen some good flashy plays, 62 00:02:18,739 --> 00:02:20,260 but one of the other things that really 63 00:02:20,260 --> 00:02:21,799 sticks out to me is how, 64 00:02:21,799 --> 00:02:24,020 how light this guy is on his feet. 65 00:02:24,020 --> 00:02:25,740 And that can be 66 00:02:25,740 --> 00:02:27,139 a good thing for a losing and 67 00:02:27,139 --> 00:02:28,540 that sort of thing with defenders. 68 00:02:28,540 --> 00:02:29,979 But he's getting knocked off 69 00:02:29,979 --> 00:02:32,100 the puck fairly easily at times. 70 00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:34,220 And uh, even from the press box, 71 00:02:34,220 --> 00:02:36,800 Lance, we can see a difference in size in the guy, right. 72 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:38,600 And in waist up I'm talking about. 73 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,539 I mean, what is this 164 74 00:02:40,539 --> 00:02:43,639 so I don't know how you get around that part of it, 75 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,419 how much how much that has impacted what he 76 00:02:45,419 --> 00:02:47,180 has been and hasn't been able to do. 77 00:02:47,180 --> 00:02:48,979 But I think we would agree, um, 78 00:02:48,979 --> 00:02:50,659 that going into this and how things looked 79 00:02:50,659 --> 00:02:52,679 a week ago with the line and everything, 80 00:02:52,679 --> 00:02:54,540 that we wouldn't have been talking about. 81 00:02:54,540 --> 00:02:56,579 McCowan looking for his or sorry, 82 00:02:56,579 --> 00:02:58,880 McKenna looking for his first NHL point 83 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:00,680 going into game four against Nashville. 84 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,620 So I don't know what you do with the line. 85 00:03:02,620 --> 00:03:05,200 Um, you know, does Nylander have to get a spark more? 86 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,320 Well, guess what? We've been talking about that forever. 87 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,820 Perhaps he does, but, um, you know, 88 00:03:09,820 --> 00:03:11,659 it's a bit of a conundrum for, 89 00:03:11,659 --> 00:03:13,820 uh, an early one for Hillary and his staff. 90 00:03:13,820 --> 00:03:15,599 Yeah. First of all, 91 00:03:15,599 --> 00:03:16,960 I would say that, uh, 92 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:18,919 you got Nylander and you've got McKenna, 93 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,400 who both like to, uh, dangle or, 94 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:22,620 uh, try some, uh, 95 00:03:22,620 --> 00:03:23,960 fancy stuff with the puck. 96 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:25,240 And that hasn't worked. 97 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:26,919 Certainly McKenna has found out, uh, 98 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,419 in the last couple of games since, uh, 99 00:03:29,419 --> 00:03:32,220 exhibition play, transition to real play. 100 00:03:32,220 --> 00:03:33,699 Uh, people are and people, 101 00:03:33,699 --> 00:03:36,880 big people and skilled people and skilled checkers are, 102 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:38,960 are anticipating what he's doing. 103 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:40,780 And they're, uh, they're, they're, 104 00:03:40,780 --> 00:03:43,720 uh, you know, impacting him that way. 105 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:45,440 Uh, Nylander has always been high risk. 106 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:47,000 So we know that's, uh, sort of coming. 107 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:48,860 And when you have, uh, Tavares who, 108 00:03:48,860 --> 00:03:50,159 uh, who is great down low, 109 00:03:50,159 --> 00:03:52,080 but obviously struggles when, 110 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:53,499 uh, he, uh, you know, 111 00:03:53,499 --> 00:03:55,199 when he has to get back into the play, uh, 112 00:03:55,199 --> 00:03:57,140 those three things aren't adding up. 113 00:03:57,140 --> 00:03:58,899 Yes. It's early, I would predict, 114 00:03:58,899 --> 00:04:00,809 and we'll have to see in a couple hours, 115 00:04:00,809 --> 00:04:01,770 uh, what they do. 116 00:04:01,770 --> 00:04:03,330 But I think one more home game, 117 00:04:03,330 --> 00:04:06,390 just especially when Jim Hiller has last line change. 118 00:04:06,390 --> 00:04:08,909 I think he keeps those guys together to see what, 119 00:04:08,909 --> 00:04:10,410 uh, see what might be happening. 120 00:04:10,410 --> 00:04:12,070 And if there's something, 121 00:04:12,070 --> 00:04:13,490 you know, something that sticks out again, 122 00:04:13,490 --> 00:04:15,409 then maybe I believe he's got one more practice 123 00:04:15,409 --> 00:04:17,990 before they go on the road trip to try and, 124 00:04:17,990 --> 00:04:19,770 uh, straighten, straighten those things out. 125 00:04:19,770 --> 00:04:21,170 So, uh, it, uh, 126 00:04:21,170 --> 00:04:23,250 you know, it is a lot different than we thought. 127 00:04:23,250 --> 00:04:25,890 And certainly, uh, the first line has, uh, 128 00:04:25,890 --> 00:04:27,990 has played better also, uh, you know, 129 00:04:27,990 --> 00:04:29,250 there's been some chances that 130 00:04:29,250 --> 00:04:30,770 they've missed a couple of times. 131 00:04:30,770 --> 00:04:32,109 Uh, McKenna has put, 132 00:04:32,109 --> 00:04:33,909 uh, Nylander and, uh, 133 00:04:33,909 --> 00:04:36,270 a couple of other times he's, he's, you know, 134 00:04:36,270 --> 00:04:38,730 he's just missed that first NHL point. 135 00:04:38,730 --> 00:04:41,009 I'm sure he'd like to get it, uh, done, 136 00:04:41,009 --> 00:04:42,730 especially after Stenberg got 137 00:04:42,730 --> 00:04:44,490 his first in the last couple of nights. 138 00:04:44,490 --> 00:04:46,009 So I have to see what, 139 00:04:46,009 --> 00:04:47,350 uh, what shakes out. 140 00:04:47,350 --> 00:04:49,310 Uh, the other quick thing I'll say is, 141 00:04:49,310 --> 00:04:50,650 uh, McKenna talked about. 142 00:04:50,650 --> 00:04:52,049 I got to get inside more, 143 00:04:52,049 --> 00:04:53,350 uh, than the Terry's point. 144 00:04:53,350 --> 00:04:55,830 He is pretty late, so it's going to be very hard for him, 145 00:04:55,830 --> 00:04:58,209 especially against really tough defensive teams 146 00:04:58,209 --> 00:04:59,540 to try and get inside. 147 00:04:59,540 --> 00:05:01,160 That's that's not his forte. 148 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:02,460 You know he's a playmaker. 149 00:05:02,460 --> 00:05:03,620 He needs to, uh, 150 00:05:03,620 --> 00:05:05,880 be a little bit more sharper with, uh, 151 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:07,660 with his passes and know that, uh, 152 00:05:07,660 --> 00:05:09,420 some of the stuff he got away with 153 00:05:09,420 --> 00:05:12,200 in junior in the NCAA isn't going to work here. 154 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:14,639 Well, one guy that has been noticeable has 155 00:05:14,639 --> 00:05:16,740 been Easton Cowan early on in this season. 156 00:05:16,740 --> 00:05:18,500 Lance. And I think some people 157 00:05:18,500 --> 00:05:20,499 are wondering if maybe that is the fix where 158 00:05:20,499 --> 00:05:22,479 you flip Gavin McKenna and Easton Cowan on 159 00:05:22,479 --> 00:05:24,740 the second and third line, 160 00:05:24,740 --> 00:05:27,580 but does not seem like that could be the case. 161 00:05:27,580 --> 00:05:29,140 As you said, if the Leafs decide 162 00:05:29,140 --> 00:05:31,420 to keep these lines for at least one more game. 163 00:05:31,420 --> 00:05:33,100 But is there an opportunity here for 164 00:05:33,100 --> 00:05:35,579 Jim Hiller to just get Easton Cowan some more ice time, 165 00:05:35,579 --> 00:05:37,100 because it's clear that he 166 00:05:37,100 --> 00:05:39,380 has taken a step here in his second, 167 00:05:39,380 --> 00:05:41,540 uh, big season with the big club. 168 00:05:41,540 --> 00:05:43,300 Well, discussed it with Cowan the other day, 169 00:05:43,300 --> 00:05:44,719 and he certainly likes the extra 170 00:05:44,719 --> 00:05:46,720 power play time that he gets. 171 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:48,980 And certainly he's earned a little bit more of, 172 00:05:48,980 --> 00:05:51,500 uh, of, uh, of a look somewhere, uh, 173 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:53,340 in the, uh, in the leaf, 174 00:05:53,340 --> 00:05:54,620 uh, in the leaf, 175 00:05:54,620 --> 00:05:56,280 uh, lineup, uh, hierarchy. 176 00:05:56,280 --> 00:05:58,424 Uh, I think, uh, you know, credit to him, 177 00:05:58,424 --> 00:05:59,709 He kind of flew under the radar with 178 00:05:59,709 --> 00:06:01,189 all the attention about McKenna 179 00:06:01,189 --> 00:06:04,050 and certainly came to camp in in good shape. 180 00:06:04,050 --> 00:06:05,710 Uh, I really like last night he, uh. 181 00:06:05,710 --> 00:06:06,970 Or I'm sorry, Saturday, 182 00:06:06,970 --> 00:06:08,670 I forget which Ottawa senator really 183 00:06:08,670 --> 00:06:10,389 got under his skin and they were like little, 184 00:06:10,389 --> 00:06:12,270 uh, stick exchange and bumping going back. 185 00:06:12,270 --> 00:06:14,570 So that's part of Cowan's game that, 186 00:06:14,570 --> 00:06:15,790 uh, you know, again, he's 187 00:06:15,790 --> 00:06:17,270 not the tallest kid in the world. 188 00:06:17,270 --> 00:06:18,790 I think he's topped out at six feet now. 189 00:06:18,790 --> 00:06:19,550 He stopped growing. 190 00:06:19,550 --> 00:06:20,810 But that's a, you know, 191 00:06:20,810 --> 00:06:23,310 the way he plays as a as a puck hound, uh, 192 00:06:23,310 --> 00:06:24,689 he has to, uh, 193 00:06:24,689 --> 00:06:26,750 you know, expect that kind of attention. 194 00:06:26,750 --> 00:06:27,750 And I think it's a really good 195 00:06:27,750 --> 00:06:28,949 sign that he's been able to 196 00:06:28,949 --> 00:06:31,510 do that offensive, uh, creativity. 197 00:06:31,510 --> 00:06:33,950 I believe Jim Hiller used the term he's going to. 198 00:06:33,950 --> 00:06:36,710 He could be the straw that stirs the drink on that line. 199 00:06:36,710 --> 00:06:38,490 And, uh, with, you know, 200 00:06:38,490 --> 00:06:40,230 the way things have worked out so far, 201 00:06:40,230 --> 00:06:41,749 it's going to, you know, the temptation, 202 00:06:41,749 --> 00:06:42,830 I guess, is there to move him up. 203 00:06:42,830 --> 00:06:44,470 But also that's a pretty good, uh, 204 00:06:44,470 --> 00:06:47,270 line with, uh, with Nick, Paul and Sissons. 205 00:06:47,270 --> 00:06:48,470 That seems to work really well. 206 00:06:48,470 --> 00:06:50,190 So, uh, you know, the temptation 207 00:06:50,190 --> 00:06:51,930 to move him up is there the, 208 00:06:51,930 --> 00:06:53,389 the temptation to leave him there when 209 00:06:53,389 --> 00:06:54,890 the Leafs are playing, uh, you know, 210 00:06:54,890 --> 00:06:56,769 with that line half decent defensively, 211 00:06:56,769 --> 00:06:58,560 uh, is going to be interesting. 212 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,639 Well, if they keep the lines together 213 00:07:00,639 --> 00:07:02,759 tomorrow night as they are against Nashville, 214 00:07:02,759 --> 00:07:04,680 and a result is similar to what we 215 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,299 saw like a one goal loss in the first two games, 216 00:07:07,299 --> 00:07:09,340 there won't be any choice but to do it. 217 00:07:09,340 --> 00:07:10,739 He's been their best forward, 218 00:07:10,739 --> 00:07:12,340 uh, top to bottom. 219 00:07:12,340 --> 00:07:13,600 Easton Cowan has been. 220 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,020 And yes, he does deserve more ice time. 221 00:07:16,020 --> 00:07:17,800 Does it come at the expense of 222 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,300 Gavin McKenna on the second line, perhaps. 223 00:07:20,300 --> 00:07:22,900 Uh, do you, you know, 224 00:07:22,900 --> 00:07:26,060 are we sold yet on Jack Roslovic on the top line, 225 00:07:26,060 --> 00:07:28,560 uh, with, um, with Auston Matthews. 226 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,580 I'm not, uh, one assist for Roslovic through three games. 227 00:07:32,580 --> 00:07:34,960 Is that something that's a long term fix? 228 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,420 Their solution. Whatever the word is, we'll have to see. 229 00:07:37,420 --> 00:07:40,100 Uh, but if Callan keeps doing what he's doing. 230 00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:42,580 You love what Paul and Sissons bring. 231 00:07:42,580 --> 00:07:43,920 He should not be playing with them. 232 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,080 He's got to be a top six guy, period. 233 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,540 And you know, we'll see where it goes. 234 00:07:48,540 --> 00:07:49,720 I mean, maybe they come out of 235 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:51,040 tomorrow night with a victory. 236 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,459 And you know we can you pump the brakes on 237 00:07:53,459 --> 00:07:56,930 that uh a bit no matter how that might come. 238 00:07:56,930 --> 00:07:59,519 Mccowan's, uh, you know, the, the, 239 00:07:59,519 --> 00:08:02,420 the tenacity, the, the puck skills. 240 00:08:02,420 --> 00:08:03,780 It's been a nice combination. 241 00:08:03,780 --> 00:08:05,400 The kids never lacked for confidence. 242 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:06,420 I mean, my God, he wins 243 00:08:06,420 --> 00:08:08,160 championships every spring, right? 244 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,299 He's got two with the London Knights and one, of course, 245 00:08:10,299 --> 00:08:11,339 with the Marlies last year, 246 00:08:11,339 --> 00:08:14,260 of which he was a vital cog from the Cup run. 247 00:08:14,260 --> 00:08:19,520 So Easton McCowan is a third line forward in the NHL. 248 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:21,019 Um, you know, 249 00:08:21,019 --> 00:08:22,700 I guess there's a bit of a ring to it right now. 250 00:08:22,700 --> 00:08:24,259 And like in that sense it's worked 251 00:08:24,259 --> 00:08:26,060 with Paul and Sissons, but he's not. 252 00:08:26,060 --> 00:08:28,180 He's emerging more and more as less and 253 00:08:28,180 --> 00:08:30,700 less of a third line player, if that makes sense. 254 00:08:30,700 --> 00:08:32,020 And, uh, but that's a good thing. 255 00:08:32,020 --> 00:08:33,880 That's what you want. You know, 256 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,740 you, you're, if you're Cowan, 257 00:08:35,740 --> 00:08:38,019 you want to be pushing the envelope here and pushing 258 00:08:38,019 --> 00:08:39,099 Hiller's hand and giving 259 00:08:39,099 --> 00:08:41,060 the coaching staff something to think about. 260 00:08:41,060 --> 00:08:42,539 And if nothing else, 261 00:08:42,539 --> 00:08:44,700 it's exactly what he's done through three games. 262 00:08:44,700 --> 00:08:46,219 And, uh, you know, 263 00:08:46,219 --> 00:08:48,620 I don't see him as a bottom six long term. 264 00:08:48,620 --> 00:08:50,460 We'll see what comes out in the wash. 265 00:08:50,460 --> 00:08:52,880 I quickly add that, uh, you know, 266 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:54,460 McKenna was very complimentary of 267 00:08:54,460 --> 00:08:56,740 watching Paul and Sissons as, 268 00:08:56,740 --> 00:08:58,270 uh, as as a young NHLer 269 00:08:58,270 --> 00:09:00,230 and really appreciating their forecheck game. 270 00:09:00,230 --> 00:09:02,670 So maybe beneficial to drop down there. 271 00:09:02,670 --> 00:09:03,830 I don't know how much of 272 00:09:03,830 --> 00:09:06,349 a good fit he'd be on that line though. 273 00:09:06,349 --> 00:09:07,269 Yeah. 274 00:09:07,269 --> 00:09:08,730 Yeah. And you know, you're right, Lance. 275 00:09:08,730 --> 00:09:10,990 And yeah, I was going to say just real quick, 276 00:09:10,990 --> 00:09:12,509 I mean, all we've been hearing 277 00:09:12,509 --> 00:09:14,230 about is McKenna's confidence, right? 278 00:09:14,230 --> 00:09:15,789 So maybe if maybe there wouldn't 279 00:09:15,789 --> 00:09:17,809 be a shot to it if there's a bit of a line, 280 00:09:17,809 --> 00:09:19,510 uh, change there and he's 281 00:09:19,510 --> 00:09:21,530 a mature kid, he'd understand why. 282 00:09:21,530 --> 00:09:23,670 You know, you might need some coaching through it, 283 00:09:23,670 --> 00:09:25,070 but maybe it's a move that they 284 00:09:25,070 --> 00:09:27,170 think he could handle. We'll have to see. 285 00:09:27,170 --> 00:09:30,090 Yeah, we'll have to see how the line shake out, 286 00:09:30,090 --> 00:09:31,309 as the Maple Leafs will 287 00:09:31,309 --> 00:09:32,989 practice on Monday before their game against 288 00:09:32,989 --> 00:09:36,650 Nashville on Tuesday at home at Scotiabank Arena. 289 00:09:36,650 --> 00:09:38,549 As always, leave your thoughts in the comment section 290 00:09:38,549 --> 00:09:40,590 below for Lance Hornby and Terry Shannon. 291 00:09:40,590 --> 00:09:41,830 Rob Long, thanks for watching 292 00:09:41,830 --> 00:09:44,390 and we'll catch you on the next one.