Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan's Future Now in Doubt Thanks to Untimely Injury

Earlier today, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Scott Laughton is dealing with a lower-body injury and will have to miss a few weeks as a result.

Overall, this is a worst-case scenario for the team, which will now be without its fourth-line center to start the season. Despite giving David Kampf a chance at practice this morning, they put him on waivers anyway.

Given his contract status, it is likely that he will clear waivers and find his way back to the Leafs. Instead, this was just a formality to make sure he could go from the NHL to the AHL with ease.

Unfortunately, this also has a substantial impact on wannabe rookie Easton Cowan, who may no longer be a lock to make the opening night roster.

Cowan showed tremendous chemistry with Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton throughout the preseason, and everyone had him making the team.

However, as Anthony Petrielli points out, Cowan and Kampf are not a sure thing. As a result, it seems more likely that Cowan will go down to the AHL to start the season, and Nick Robertson will play on the fourth line instead.

Overall, this is not what you want to see if you are a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Just yesterday, the team had the perfect fourth line. Now, they must delay a dream scenario.

Meanwhile, Kampf and Robertson catch a massive break, as they were slated to start the season without a spot in the Maple Leafs' lineup.

Between now and opening night on October 8th, we will have a much clearer picture on what the Leafs intend to do with Cowan, and there are other fifth-line players.