You can never start early enough to get a Maple Leafs prospect thinking like a National Hockey Leaguer.

For coach John Gruden, monitoring the first of a two-day Toronto’s rookie camp on Thursday ahead of weekend games against top recruits from the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens, there’s nothing like a live-fire exercise.

Some takeaways for Gruden as the Leafs head to the Bell Centre in Montreal.

COWAN CORNER

Gruden could eventually see 2023’s top pick Easton Cowan as a full-time member of the AHL Marlies, but wants him taking full advantage of these two much-hyped matches as a springboard to main Leafs camp next week.

Mitch Marner’s departure will create a domino effect somewhere within right-wing depth.

“He was there last year (in Montreal) when they had 18,000 people in bot

See Full Page