The Toronto Maple Leafs' power play has been a significant weakness this season, languishing near the bottom of the National Hockey League rankings. While rookie forward Easton Cowan is not a singular solution, head coach Craig Berube believes his unique skill set could be the key to unlocking much-needed success with the man advantage.
Berube Banks on Cowan's Creative Spark
Coach Craig Berube pointed directly to the 20-year-old rookie's vision and playmaking as potential antidotes to the power play's struggles. "Cowan, he's the one guy, he makes a lot of plays … he has great vision," Berube stated on Saturday. He emphasized Cowan's ability to operate effectively in the critical hash-mark-down areas and create scoring chances for the team's shooters.
This creative role on the top unit became a glaring vacancy following the offseason departure of longtime star Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. While it's a substantial responsibility for a first-year player on a team fighting for a playoff position, Berube's confidence suggests Cowan is ready for the challenge.
The Stark Numbers Behind the Struggle
The statistics paint a clear picture of the problem. As of Saturday, the Maple Leafs ranked 28th in the NHL on the power play with a success rate of just 14.7%. Their 10 power-play goals in the 2025-26 season were tied for the league's fewest with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Perhaps most concerning is the output from franchise cornerstone Auston Matthews. The captain has managed only one power-play goal this season. This is a stark contrast to his consistent production in previous years, where he scored at least 10 power-play goals annually since the 2018-19 season, including a high of 18 in 2023-24. Getting Matthews into prime shooting positions is now a top priority for assistant coach Marc Savard.
Despite the overall struggles, there have been brief flashes of competence. The team went 4-for-12 on the power play during a three-game stretch from November 8th to 11th. However, in the 10 games that followed, they regressed dramatically, converting on just 2 of 22 opportunities.
Individual Contributions and the Path Forward
Interestingly, Cowan's individual point production hasn't yet been fueled by the power play. Of his eight total points (three goals and five assists) through his first 19 NHL games, none have come with the man advantage. His value, according to Berube, lies in the plays he creates rather than just finishing them.
Other players are contributing to earning opportunities. At five-on-five, Max Domi leads the Leafs with eight penalties drawn. Cowan is part of a group of five players, including Matthew Knies and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who have each drawn six penalties.
The task ahead is clear. The coaching staff must design a system that leverages Cowan's creativity to facilitate shooters like Matthews, while the players must execute with more consistency. In a tightly contested playoff race, fixing the power play could be the difference between an early spring and a deep postseason run for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
