The Maple Leafs have a new goal horn, and Easton Cowan gave it a workout tonight with Toronto's first power-play goal of the season.
That unfamiliar sound on opening night wasn't a glitch. The horn is officially new, and it sounds very similar to the Calgary Flames' horn, if not the exact same one.
A goal horn is part of a building's identity. It's the sound fans carry home after big nights, and Leafs fans had plenty of time to get attached to the old one.
Now the question making the rounds is simple: love it or hate it?
In the clip, the horn booms across Scotiabank Arena with a tone that sounds like it was shipped straight from Calgary.
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Easton Cowan keeps the new horn busy with a fast start
Cowan is the one making it sing. His power-play goal against the Islanders gives him three points in his first four periods of the season.
He opened with an assist in the loss to Montreal. At 21, on a $900,000 cap hit, that's the kind of value every front office dreams about.
Everything about this team feels new. A new coach in Jim Hiller, hired June 17, a new GM, and a roster reshaped by Kirill Marchenko's arrival and Matthew Knies' exit.
Gavin McKenna made his debut as the first overall pick, and Sergei Bobrovsky took over the crease. A new horn almost fits the theme.
If that really is Calgary's horn, it's a strange choice for a franchise that loves to talk about its history. Borrowing another Canadian team's sound is a weird flex.
Changing a goal horn is like your favourite diner switching coffee brands. The place looks the same, but the regulars notice on the first sip.
The Islanders still have time to push back tonight, and the Leafs could use the win after dropping their opener. Ottawa visits Saturday.
Cowan's hot start will keep the horn busy if it holds. Whether fans warm up to the sound may depend on how often they get to hear it.
Do you like the Maple Leafs' new goal horn?
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