Forget what everyone’s been saying about picking between Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan for this year’s T25U25 list, because the “simple and obvious” choice isn’t actually that simple. Yeah, the consensus out there has Knies way ahead, a no-brainer for the #2 spot with Cowan trailing at #3, but if you look closer, this call is way tighter than anyone gives it credit for. Honestly, I found this decision tough, but the overall voting results scream “it’s so obvious.” We gotta dig into why that consensus might be missing some real details.
The Vitals and the Voters
Let’s get down to brass tacks with the numbers on these guys, because they tell part of the story. Matthew Knies, as of July 1, is 23.7 years old, a 6’3″, 232lb left winger who shoots left, drafted 57th in 2021. Easton Cowan is younger at 21.12 years old, a 6′, 190lb center/winger who also shoots left, drafted 28th in 2023. These aren’t just prospects anymore; both are firmly established NHLers, especially Knies. But here’s the kicker: the T25 voters have a history of underrating players who hit the NHL at 20 or 21. Think about it: guys like Nazem Kadri, Morgan Rielly, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and even others like Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen, and Rasmus Sandin were ranked ridiculously low in their first NHL years. Why? Because once a player is in the league, the focus snaps to their current ability, and future growth kinda gets ignored. That age and experience difference totally muddies the waters here.
Experience Gap, Not Talent Gap
Knies has a solid two and a half years on Cowan, and those years aren’t just for show. He’s got three full NHL seasons under his belt and three trips to the playoffs. That’s a huge resume! Knies is already a year into his big contract, pulling in over $7 million, he’s in the team PR videos, and he was even the guy right there when William Nylander found out the Leafs won the draft lottery. The dude’s a core player, no question. Now, Cowan? He’s still got two more seasons on his entry-level deal, with 66 NHL games played and no NHL playoff experience. Sure, he had that Calder Cup run with the Marlies, but the very fact he was new and green enough to head down to the AHL after the season ends up being a mark against him in this direct comparison. You might think, “Okay, let’s just compare Knies’ first season to Cowan’s,” and yeah, that makes sense. But even that opens up a whole other can of worms, according to the HockeyViz model.
It’s clear that while Knies has the established NHL veteran status, the sheer gap in age and experience often overshadows Cowan’s potential when fans and even evaluators make the “obvious” choice. This isn’t just about who’s had more time; it’s about what that time means for their trajectory and how we actually rate these players going forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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