Time Is Running Out For Jared Cowen, Is This His Last Year To Prove It?
By Jack Leiper
Jared Cowen has been an interesting case since his arrival in the NHL.
He skated in the NHL as an 18-year-old, a rarity among defenders. He suffered major injuries and went through surgery as a young player. Now, he’s 24 and still has lots to prove at the NHL level. Time could be running out.
In his draft year, Cowen was among the best available defenders. Past two smooth skating swedes in Victor Hedman and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jared Cowen was touted as one of the best. The Senators bought into the hype, and although it’s been well-documented that their real target was Nazem Kadri, the Senators settled, happily on Cowen at 9th overall.
Potential vs Impact
Cowen now has over 200 NHL games under his belt. While potential can still be discussed since he is only 24, there’s a time when you have to stop looking at potential at the NHL level and rather the impact the player is having.
Cowen only played 54 games this year in what was a mostly healthy season—that’s a lot of time in the press box. He was a scratch under Paul MacLean and again under Dave Cameron, rarely seeing success under either coach.
Former bench boss, Paul MacLean touched on the idea of potential vs impact earlier this year. I was able to dig up a quote from an October posting in relation to Jared Cowen that still seems to be relevant when dealing with his play.
"He has to work on his game. A young player lots of times you keep in the lineup and say it’s growing pains, it’s growing pains and you keep him in, we’ve done that for Jared in the past.Now you’re not a young player anymore so we need to have you work on things, specific things, that are going to make you a better player, not only down the road, but for today. That’s the process.You’re not a young player anymore so you don’t get to play through it, you have to be better than the guy that’s out there. You’ve got to earn your way.”Paul MacLean – Via Sens TV"
MacLean pretty much nails it when discussing Cowen, and it’s nearly the same situation heading into training camp this year. He needs to have a big camp, and he needs to have a good start to the season. Otherwise, his future in Ottawa could be shaky.
He makes $3,100,000 on the annual average hit. For a cap team like Ottawa, or really any team, that’s a lot to be paying a bottom pairing defender. He’s expected to be more this year.
When Do The Senators Walk Away?
At what point do you walk away as the Senators? It’s a hard choice to make as a former top 10 pick, but that was 6 years ago. Jared Cowen isn’t growing younger, but he’s also not growing smaller—which seems to help his case.
Bryan Murray has been quoted many times, saying that he’s a “big, strong, young defenceman.. who is going to be really good in the NHL”
It’s a point that may have been true a year or two ago, but the fact that Cowen has still yet to take any step forward is concerning. Yet, the Senators still hold onto the hope, while that hope takes up 3.1 million on their payroll.
If I’m Bryan Murray and crew, I’m having an honest sit down conversation with Cowen at the end of last season. Tell him how you view him as the organization and what steps need to be made heading into camp. On Cowen’s side of things, there is no way he is oblivious to the situation as he sat out nearly 20 games this year, healthy.
As the organization, I’ve already made up my mind and I have a road map on Cowen. We know he is being given another chance on the roster this upcoming year and if he’s not shown anything, then perhaps time to move on. Deal him and attempt to get back an asset, but most importantly, get his salary off the books.
It could come next off-season, when Cowen still has a year on his deal, but if it doesn’t happen that year, it’s just a rinse and repeat of what’s gone on this season. Give him another chance heading into 16-17, where the only difference is that Cowen will be without a contract that off-season and will be owed a 3.1 million dollar qualifying offer. And that could mean the Senators allow Cowen to explore free agency, unrestricted, as a 26-year-old.
Of course, that all has to do with whether or not Cowen advances in his development. It’s certainly a worst case scenario, and although he hasn’t done anything to prove he’s moving forward, as fans, we can only hope he somehow finds his game this upcoming year.
So, with that.. I’m asking “when would you move on from Jared Cowen?”
Next: Mika Zibanejad Best and Worst Case Scenario