Maple Leafs notebook: Cowanâ€s big promotion, Kampfâ€s Toronto days over?

TORONTO — The gulf between the Toronto Maple Leafs†power play and the Pittsburgh Penguins†is vast.

The Leafs rank 29th league-wide, converting on just 12.5 per cent of their opportunities, while the Penguins are on fire, ranking second overall with 32.3 per cent. 

Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube believes itâ€s time to adjust.

Rookie Easton Cowan — hot off scoring his first NHL goal Saturday — will supplant Matthew Knies on the top unit Monday when the Leafs host the Penguins.

“He looks like heâ€s got his energy back. Really impressed with his last game in Philly,†says Berube, who has also promoted Cowan to John Tavares†line. 

“Weâ€re not making enough plays on power play. We are shooting pucks. Like, I think weâ€re top five in league in shots-for on a power-play and stuff. But we’re not getting results a lot of times. You got to be able to make these (five-foot) plays. And he really does see those plays. Like, in a bumper, going to the goal line, little rotation stuff. So, hopefully that can trigger something and get some better looks in tighter.â€

Torontoâ€s power play and the Tavares line will also welcome back William Nylander, who has sat out three of the past four games managing a lower-body injury.

“Well, he feels a lot better,†Berube says. “He felt he could contribute in the Calgary game, which he did. He played that game, but it kind of put him back a little bit. 

“He feels good. Heâ€s ready to go.â€

Much to the dismay of Penguins defenceman Erik Karlsson.

“Iâ€ve got the chance to play with Willie now for a couple of times on the national team,†Karlsson says. “Heâ€s obviously a very good player. I think he has been since he came into this league. To play in a market like this, for a team like this, with the expectations they have, and being able to outperform them, shows a lot to his character as a professional and as a person. I get along great with him.â€

Crosby glued to Blue Jays†run

The Penguins†plane returned from Winnipeg in the eighth inning Saturday, just in time for Sidney Crosby to have his heart broken like so many Canadian baseball fans.

“Yeah, I was pulling for them, obviously,†Crosby says. “You could just feel how bad everybody wanted to see them win. And itâ€s too bad with the way it ended up. Obviously, anything happen — Game 7. But it was such an easy team to root for. You could tell they were a tight group, and just the way they played and how everyone chipped in at different points, it was a lot of fun to follow that. Was hoping theyâ€d find a way to pull it off.â€

And, yes, Crosby got a kick out of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. repping the other Team Canada captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, on his back that night.

“That was really cool,†Crosby says. “You know, sheâ€s been so clutch over the years, and he was amazing too, the whole playoffs.

“But it was pretty neat to see him wearing her jersey.â€

McMann must respond to dip

Bobby McMann skated as Torontoâ€s 13th forward Monday morning and is trending toward his first healthy scratch of the season.

“I got decisions to make,†says Berube, not ruling McMann out.

OK. But the power forward skated a season-low 11:43 and mustered just one shot in Saturdayâ€s win over Philadelphia. 

Heâ€s on an eight-game point drought after starting his contract year with points in three of his first four.

“Early on, I saw the player I wanted to see. I thought he was very aggressive. He was physical, winning his battles and getting scoring opportunities,†Berube says. “Itâ€s dipped off a little bit. So, itâ€s just about a mindset, for me, with him. Heâ€s playing a little too safe at times. He needs to play more aggressively.â€

Consistency remains an issue for McMann, who scored 20 goals last season but ended 2024-25 on a troubling drought.

Tanev ‘in a good spotâ€

Recovering from an upper-body injury of his own, Steven Lorentz was leaning over the press box watching teammate Chris Tanev down on Philadelphia ice Saturday night, holding his head.

“You feel so helpless,†Lorentz says. “When he goes down, you know itâ€s serious.â€

Tanev was stretchered off the sheet in his first game back from a concussion. He underwent tests and spent one night in a local hospital as a precaution before flying back to Toronto Sunday.

“Heâ€s doing fine. Heâ€s back home here,†Berube says. “Weâ€ve all spoken to him, and heâ€s in a good spot.â€

Tanev trip to injured reserve reopens opportunity for Philippe Myers in this next-man-up league, but the vulnerable image of a guy so often described as hockeyâ€s ultimate warrior is hard to shake.

“Itâ€s awful. First and foremost, youâ€re just caring about the human being, you know? You think about his family. You just want everything to be OK. Thatâ€s all that matters in those situations,†says teammate Brandon Carlo, who got stretchered off early in his career due to a broken fibula.

“Youâ€re just trying to kind of listen to the medical staff. For myself, it was just letting my family know that Iâ€m OK. That’s kind of the first thoughts that go through my mind in that situation.â€

Kämpf terminating contract?

David Kämpf was scratched for the bulk of the Maple Leafs†2025 playoff run and failed to the make the team out of training camp after GM Brad Treliving explored trade options over the off-season for the veteran centre.

That the Leafs declined to use him when fourth-line centre Scott Laughton injured his foot proved how far out of favour heâ€d fallen.

Now, Kämpf, 30, has taken a break from the AHL Marlies while he contemplates his future.

Would he dare agree to mutually terminated the richest contract of his life?

Kämpf has another season beyond this one remaining on the four-year, $9.6-million deal Treliving signed him to in 2023. Heâ€s due a $1.35-million signing bonus on July 1.

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Thatâ€s big money for a depth player to give up, but Kämpf wants to keep his NHL career afloat and make Czechiaâ€s Olympic squad. Thatâ€s tough to do when youâ€re an afterthought on the farm.

Does he burn his Leafs contract and sign for less on another team?

“We have too many players, and we got to make decisions,†Berube says. “Him going down to the minors, and he doesnâ€t feel like he wants to be down there. So, thatâ€s his decision on what he does. That’s not for me to answer. That’s all Brad and him to figure that out.â€

One-Timers: Anthony Stolarz versus Tristan Jarry is the projected goalie matchup. … Dakota Mermis has been recalled with Tanev on injured reserve. … Laughton (lower body) and Lorentz (upper body) remain out. Lorentz says he should be good to play Wednesday versus Utah.

Maple Leafs projected lines Monday vs. Pittsburgh Penguins:

Knies – Matthews – Robertson

Cowan – Tavares – Nylander

Joshua – Roy – Maccelli

Blais – Domi – Järnkrok

Extras/Injured: McMann, Laughton, Lorentz

Ekman-Larsson – Myers

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