The Toronto Maple Leafs took London Knights forward Easton Cowan 28th overall at the NHL Draft on Wednesday.
Toronto last picked in the first round back in 2020 when they selected Rodion Amirov 15th overall. Last year, the Leafs sent their first round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks along with Petr Mrazek in exchange for a second-round pick which they used to take Fraser Minten.
This is the first draft with Brad Treliving taking over for Kyle Dubas as general manager.
The five-foot-11, 170-pound Cowan had 20 goals and 33 assists in 68 regular-season games with the Knights this past season before putting up nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 20 playoff games.
London advanced to the OHL final, where the Knights lost to the Peterborough Petes.
It was Cowan’s first full year in the OHL.
Eight years ago, the Leafs also picked a Knight in the first round when they took Mitch Marner fourth overall.