Easton Cowan appears to have decided his next move for the upcoming season

However, a last-minute goal by Saginaw ended the Knights' season on a heartbreaking note.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' 2023 first-round pick had an exceptional season, leading the Memorial Cup with eight points in four games. Cowan's achievements this season also include winning the OHL Championship and earning the titles of OHL regular season MVP and playoff MVP. He scored 34 goals and 96 points in 54 games, and his record-setting 36-game point streak in the regular season extended to 42 games, including the playoffs. Cowan concluded the OHL playoffs with 34 points in 18 games.

With the season over, Cowan shared a reflective collage of photos with his London Knights teammates, sparking speculation about his future. The caption has led fans to believe he might return to junior hockey in London next season.

Cowan's words, "good luck to the guys moving on," imply that he might be planning to stay with the Knights instead of joining the Leafs.

While anything is possible, including the possibility of Cowan making the Leafs' roster out of training camp as 19-year-old Fraser Minten did last year, it seems more likely that Cowan will spend another season in the OHL. The Leafs have considerable forward depth, and Cowan, still considered undersized, might benefit from another dominant season in junior hockey before transitioning to the professional level.

It's a challenging situation for Cowan and other CHL players who are exceptionally talented but, due to the CBA between the CHL and NHL, are ineligible to play in the AHL. This limits their development opportunities before they can join the NHL.

As Read on MapleLeafsDaily - Easton Cowan appears to have made a decision on where he'll play next season