ELC contract years will start being used up because he’s 20, yes, but it wouldn’t if he was still 18 or 19. But he still has never played pro hockey yet. As I have said elsewhere, Nylander, as a rookie, only last 22 games after 2/3 years playing pro level hockey at his age. Cowan needs top-six minutes in the AHL. Playing 8 minutes in the NHL is a waste of his development time, even if it isn’t wasting his contract years.
Ahhhh ok so by waste of a year you’re simply talking about how he’s being used, ok got it. Thanks for clarifying that for me.
Maybe the Leafs are quite simply in the now or never mode. Prospect and pick depth is notably weak, and where will this team be when Matthews’ contract is up? The backend will be notably older, same with their starter, JT isn’t leaving, so use whatever is best now. I mean why build the kid up in the minors? To have some core basically around Nylander, Knies, and him if Matthews chooses to leave? If that does happen having that kid with experience would likely make him more tradeable as he’d be at least in the middle six by then anyways. It will be rebuild time.