In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News and Rumors, we look at the strange rumors surrounding Auston Matthews and former Arizona Coyotes to Utah transfer Clayton Keller. Next, we have some good news for the team. Easton Cowan has been ranked highly in recent prospect rankings, and while he has yet to play in the NHL, he is expected to be a solid player for the Blue & White.
Finally, I would like to share an interesting conversation I had with a former colleague. Hockey Night in Canada Announcer Jim Hughson had some interesting things to say about what Maple Leafs fans can expect from his Saturday night broadcast.
Item 1: A bold guess by Auston Matthews and Clayton Keller
Matthews' recent social media activity has fueled speculation about a possible move for Keller. Matthews posted a photo of his dog playing with Keller's dog, suggesting the two were spending time together. This post, combined with their attendance at UFC 303 in Las Vegas and Matthews' previous praise for Keller, has reignited rumors that Keller will be traded to Toronto. Could he be a replacement for Mitch Marner?
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Recent social media activity and public appearances together have fueled speculation surrounding a link between Matthews and Keller, suggesting a possible future collaboration in Toronto. Behind these rumors lies Keller's potential dissatisfaction (who knows?) with the recent relocation of the team now known as the Utah Hockey Club. The turmoil has fueled speculation that Keller may be searching for a new team, and playing alongside his good friend Matthews in Toronto may be an attractive option.
While nothing has been confirmed yet, social media interactions, mutual interests, and Keller's possible desire to transfer have fans speculating that something is going on. Could the two stars be linking up soon?
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The boldest speculation is that Matthews wants Keller to join the Maple Leafs and will push for a trade, but that scenario faces obstacles due to the Maple Leafs' existing contracts. Moving Marner could create space for Keller, but there are no indications that team management is considering such a move.
Item 2: Easton Cowan is ranked 47th out of 100 available spots.
Cowan was ranked 47th in Scott Wheeler's Top 100 Draft Prospects rankings. Since being selected 28th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, he has exceeded expectations and been a standout junior player. He had an impressive 2023-24 season with the London Knights, setting career highs in goals (34), assists (62) and points (96) in just 54 games. He won the OHL's Red Tilson Trophy and the Wayne Gretzky '99 Award as the OHL Playoff MVP.
Cowan's stellar play played a key role in the Knights winning the OHL championship and reaching the Memorial Cup final. He showed great improvement with 138 points in 76 games and solidified his status as a top prospect. However, as he is only 19 years old, his options are limited between making the Maple Leafs roster or returning to the Knights for the 2024-25 season.
Cowan, who committed to the Maple Leafs roster out of training camp, is looking to follow in the footsteps of prospect Fraser Minten; however, he would like to remain in Toronto throughout the season. His strong two-way play and scoring ability make him a promising addition to the Maple Leafs' plans. Along with another promising young goaltender, Dennis Hildeby, Cowan is a bright spot in the organization's pipeline, showcasing the team's ability to secure valuable talent despite limited draft capital.
Item 3: Jim Hughson's Maple Leafs broadcasting challenges
Jim Hughson, a famous announcer, Hockey Night in CanadaHughson recently reflected on the unique challenges of being a national broadcaster, specifically calling Maple Leafs games. Hughson, who made the transition from calling Vancouver Canucks games to being the primary voice of the Maple Leafs in 2008, replaced the legendary Bob Cole in HNIC's all-important broadcast booth.
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In an interview with The Sekeres & Price Show, Hewson spoke about the complexities of his role, the difficulty of maintaining neutrality and the expectations of local fans: “When I was covering the Maple Leafs, one of the downsides of having a top host on TV was, Hockey Night in Canada To be an announcer for the Toronto Maple Leafs, you have to be there every Saturday whether the game is going well or not.” Hewson explained. He emphasized the difficulty of pleasing all fans on national television, especially given the widespread and passionate Maple Leafs fanbase in Canada.
Hewson also noted that fans have come to expect broadcasters to show the same fan ethos and biases as they do: “All the local fans expect the broadcasters to be just like them. They want the fans, and if they don't they're bound to hate them,” highlighting the difficulty of balancing local loyalty with a wider national audience.
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Hewson's contributions to hockey broadcasting were recognized with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2019. His career has been marked by playing key playoff series and moments for the Maple Leafs, which speaks to the pressures of doing national broadcasts for one of the NHL's most storied franchises.
What's next for the Maple Leafs?
Hughson's conversation shares some interesting insights into the impact social media has on hockey: While things have changed throughout the season for every team in the NHL, that's especially true for the Maple Leafs, as social media has allowed (and even encouraged) fans to form a different relationship with the team and the roster.
Hewson's thoughts are insightful and well worth listening to.
