Atlantic Division Prospects to Watch in 2024-25...Some Big Names & Some You'll Want to Learn More About

From potential top-pairing defenders to a future star in Montreal, these are some of the best prospects from teams in the Atlantic Division.

There are a lot of exciting prospects in the world right now, and many more to come once the next NHL Draft is complete. The 2024-25 season is now underway for many leagues, and I thought it would be great to highlight some of them in a series of articles. I will be dividing this up into divisions to keep it manageable. After looking at the Western Conference, let’s shift to the East and talk about some prospects from teams in the Atlantic Division.

Toronto Maple Leafs - Easton Cowan, London Knights (OHL)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a few blue-chip prospects in their system despite being in win-now mode and making the playoffs every season. One of them is Easton Cowan who was selected 28th overall in 2023. Since being drafted late in the first round, he has done nothing but prove to teams that he should have been chosen way sooner. Last season, he boosted his goal total from 20 to 34 and points from 53 to 96, winning the OHL’s Red Tilson Trophy as the league’s Most Outstanding Player. He then dominated the OHL Playoffs with 10 goals and 34 points in 18 games, winning the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as the OHL Playoffs MVP. Of course, his London Knights won the OHL Championship thanks to his efforts.

Easton Cowan, London Knights (Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)

Cowan had a strong training camp with the Maple Leafs this year and was one of the final cuts before being sent back to the OHL. He hasn’t let that deter his development though, as he’s already started the 2024-25 season on fire with six goals and 11 points in nine games so far. In fact, he’s had a point in every game, and is closing in on Doug Gilmour’s OHL point streak record of 55 games. After grabbing an assist on the Knights’ game-winning goal on Friday (Nov. 1) against the Soo Greyhounds, he is up to 45 games, going back to last season.

At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Cowan isn’t the most intimidating figure out there, but his intelligence, creativity and quick feet make up for his lack of size. He is a force when he puts all of his tools together and has shown lately that the OHL might be a league too low for him at this point. This season will likely be his last in London as he will be eligible for the American Hockey League (AHL)’s Toronto Marlies in 2025-26.

Montreal Canadiens - Ivan Demidov, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Montreal Canadiens fans were ecstatic when Ivan Demidov was still on the board when GM Kent Hughes stepped up to the podium in June. They probably felt like they had won the lottery. If the Russian factor wasn’t a thing, he likely would have gone second overall behind Macklin Celebrini. Many argue he was the second-best forward in the 2024 Draft, and he fell to the Canadiens at fifth.

Demidov is proving the experts right so far this season as his package of goal-scoring and creativity has been on full display in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with SKA St. Petersburg. He already has six goals and 19 points in 23 games and was recently named Rookie of the Week in the KHL. He also scored a highlight-reel goal on Oct. 30 against Lokomotiv that showcased his speed and silky smooth hands. Canadiens fans have every right to be excited about this kid and his future in a Habs sweater.

Ottawa Senators - Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)