Easton Cowan has earned Jim Hiller's trust in Toronto, making a trade Brad Treliving reportedly pursued look increasingly difficult to defend.
The former Maple Leafs general manager was reportedly interested in acquiring St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn before the 2025 trade deadline. The asking price was enormous.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Blues wanted Cowan, defensive prospect Ben Danford, and potentially another draft pick in exchange for Schenn.
The proposed deal never materialized. Schenn reportedly wanted his brother Luke included in any move to Toronto before agreeing to waive his no-trade clause.
That condition ultimately prevented the transaction, leaving the Maple Leafs with prospects who could have disappeared in another aggressive deadline gamble.
For Toronto, the consequences are becoming clearer as Cowan develops into a legitimate contributor rather than simply another promising name in the organization.
Brad Treliving's failed Brayden Schenn trade looks like a lucky escape for the Maple Leafs
Cowan has already forced his way into a bigger role. After opening the season on the third line, the young winger earned a promotion alongside Auston Matthews.
That promotion matters because Toronto needs younger players capable of producing alongside its established stars without requiring another expensive trade.
The situation also brings renewed attention to Treliving's previous deadline decisions. Toronto surrendered Fraser Minten, Nikita Grebenkin, and valuable draft capital in separate deals involving Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo.
Moving Cowan and Danford would have stripped even more young talent from an organization already paying a significant price for immediate help.
Schenn could have provided experience, physicality, and additional depth down the middle. But sacrificing multiple promising assets for an aging center would have carried enormous long-term risk.
With Cowan now receiving opportunities alongside Matthews, the Maple Leafs have a young forward capable of becoming part of their next competitive core.
Treliving never completed the Schenn deal, and there is no confirmation he accepted St. Louis' reported demands. Still, Toronto's growing reliance on Cowan makes that failed negotiation look like an escape from a potentially damaging mistake.
Would trading Easton Cowan for Brayden Schenn have been Brad Treliving's biggest mistake?
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