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The Toronto Maple Leafs have been playing with an incomplete lineup for the last few weeks due to injury, illness, and what is suspected to be some strategic load management. The Leafs take on the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, and the latest potential absence from the lineup is Auston Matthews. The NHL’s leading scorer is a game-time decision with due to an illness according to head coach Sheldon Keefe.
Defenseman Morgan Rielly remains day-to-day and will not play. Mitch Marner did participate in the morning skate, but is not expected to get back into the lineup until the weekend or early next week. Ilya Samsonov said he is ready to go, but Joseph Woll will make his third straight start after a strong outing against Carolina and struggling in the loss to New Jersey.
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Throughout the season, we will check in on the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects to see how they are progressing. The 2023 Draft saw Toronto trade back into the first round by moving Rasmus Sandin to Washington for Boston's top pick, but due to making numerous moves to add veterans before the deadline, the Leafs had only two other picks at the draft in Nashville.
Here is how the other players selected in the 2023 Draft are doing:
Easton Cowan – LW (London – OHL)
The Leafs surprised many with the selection of Cowan 28th overall, a feisty forward with the London Knights who had an impressive second half and OHL Playoffs. The 18-year-old continued showing progress at Traverse City and at training camp, playing in a few preseason games before heading back to junior.
Cowan grew in confidence since leaving the Leafs and has performed well beyond expectations with the Knights this season, making Team Canada for the WJC last December and finishing second on London in scoring with 96 points (34 goals, 62 assists) in just 54 games, including an impressive 36-game scoring streak.
Easton Cowan pushes his historic point streak to 36 games! 👀
Malinoski fits the template of the classic late-bloomer that we see every year. Passed over in the 2022 Draft, the 19-year-old was selected 153rd overall in his second year of draft eligibility after helping the Brooks Bandits win the AJHL championship and Centennial Cup. As a freshman at Providence College, he has 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists) in 35 games.
Hudson Malinoski (No. 9) very likely finished his freshman season at Providence on Saturday.
Overall, a solid rookie campaign making the jump from the AJHL to the NCAA. 9 goals and 18 points in 35 games. Here are his notable points, plus more in the thread.#LeafsForeverpic.twitter.com/H8WiOEixS8
The 6’4”, 200 lb. blueliner took such a sizable jump in his second full WHL season that the Leafs signed him to an entry-level contract in December. The 18-year-old had nearly tripled his 2023 offensive totals this season, with 56 points (12 goals and 44 assists) for the Hurricanes, who take on the Swift Current Broncos in the first round of the WHL Playoffs.
Noah Chadwick (No. 8) scored the overtime winner, had a primary assist on the game-tying goal, and fired 5 shots on net Saturday as Lethbridge clinched a playoff spot.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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