Cowan’s Playoff Spark Gives Leafs Prospects a Real Stage

Cowan is finding the kind of moment that can change how a front office talks about a prospect. In a playoff run, every shift gets magnified, and that is especially true when the games start looking like a proving ground instead of a development exercise. Toronto knows these runs can fast-track a kid’s reputation in a hurry, and this one has the feel of a player forcing his way into the conversation.