Jared Cowen Explained

Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:5
Weight Lb:230
Birth Date:January 25, 1991
Birth Place:Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Draft:9th overall
Draft Year:2009
Draft Team:Ottawa Senators
Career Start:2010
Career End:2016
Played For:Ottawa Senators

Jared Nelson Cowen (born January 25, 1991) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Cowen was drafted in the first round, ninth overall, by the Senators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Cowen was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in February 2016, but never played for the franchise and retired in 2017, after a pre-season tryout with the Colorado Avalanche.

Playing career

Junior

Cowen was selected by the Spokane Chiefs with the first-overall pick in the Western Hockey League (WHL)'s 2006 Bantam Draft. He appeared in six regular-season games in the 2006–07 season and also six playoff games. In his first full season with the team, he played in 68 games, and had four goals, 14 assists and 18 points, to go along with 62 penalty minutes.[1] The Chiefs won the Ed Chynoweth Cup that season as the league's champions.[2] Cowen played in all 21 playoff games, scoring one goal and adding three assists. As the league's champions, the Chiefs subsequently earned a berth in the 2008 Memorial Cup, where they defeated the Kitchener Rangers by a score of 4-1.[3] Cowen effectively clinched the Chiefs' championship by scoring into an empty net with 56 seconds to play.[1] He was named the Chiefs rookie of the year, and the WHL Western Conference scholastic player of the year.[4]

The 2008–09 season saw Cowen's numbers improve, as he registered 7 goals and 14 assists. However, his season was cut short due to a knee injury suffered in a game against the Chilliwack Bruins.[5] He still managed to be ranked as the fourth-best skater in the final rankings for the 2009 NHL Draft by the International Scouting Service. He was chosen ninth overall by the Ottawa Senators.[6] In his final year with the Chiefs, he was named a WHL Western Conference Second Team All-Star.[7]

Professional

Cowen signed a professional contract with the Senators on February 3, 2010.[8] After Spokane was eliminated from the playoffs, Cowen received a call-up to the Senators. He made his NHL debut with the Senators on April 8, 2010, in Tampa against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[9]

Compared by some scouts to Zdeno Chára[10] and Derian Hatcher,[11] Cowen was expected to challenge for a roster spot in Ottawa for the 2010–11 season. Cowen made it to the final cuts at the 2010 training camp before being returned to his junior team. He joined Ottawa's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Senators after the Spokane Chiefs were ousted in the third round of the WHL playoffs. Binghamton at the time was in the second round of their own playoffs. Cowen quickly became a key component for his new team[12] as they went on to win the 2011 Calder Cup championship.[13]

In 2011–12, Cowen made the Ottawa roster out of training camp and played regularly, being paired with veteran defenceman Sergei Gonchar. He scored his first NHL goal on November 1, 2011, against Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins.[14] As the season progressed, Cowen emerged as one of Ottawa's top four defencemen.[15]

During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, the Senators assigned Cowen to the Binghamton Senators, to give him the opportunity to play at a competitive level.[15] He suffered what was expected to be a season-ending hip injury on October 6, 2012, in a game against the Albany Devils.[16] Cowen underwent surgery on November 17, 2012, in New York to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. By March 27, 2013, Cowen was able to practice with the Senators,[17] and he was finally able to return to the Ottawa lineup on April 16, 2013,[18] much sooner than initial estimate of six-to-eight months.[19] His return to the lineup was a memorable one, as he delivered a clean open-ice hit 13 minutes into the game which caused Carolina Hurricanes star forward Jeff Skinner to leave the game and not return. Cowen later fought both Chad LaRose and Kevin Westgarth. "I think it's the first two-fight game I've had since junior, but I like it," said Cowen of his first game back.[20]

One day earlier, on April 15, 2013, Cowen was among a small group of Senators' players who had planned on attending the 2013 Boston Marathon. Cowen and the other players had originally intended to be at the marathon's finish line during the time at which bombs exploded, killing and injuring several spectators and runners. Scratches for that night's game against the Boston Bruins, the players changed their plans at the last minute and elected to return to their hotel for a nap instead. "We probably would have been in that exact same spot, within a block or so," said Cowen.[21]

As Ottawa's 2013 training camp opened, Cowen remained unsigned as a restricted free agent. On September 14, 2013, the team announced that it had come to an agreement on a four-year contract with the defenceman with an average annual value of $3.1 million.[22] That season Cowen struggled with consistency, finishing with six goals and 15 points in 68 games.[23] He was suspended for two games on December 11, 2013 for an illegal hit to the head on Zemgus Girgensons of the Buffalo Sabres.[24] In the 2014–15 season, the Senators were carrying eight defencemen on their daily roster and Cowen was scratched for four straight games[25] and five games overall in October before seeing steady playing time.[26] He finished the season playing in 54 games, but only five games after February 21, 2015[27] due to a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to head on Jussi Jokinen of the Florida Panthers[28] and an illness. He was surpassed on the depth chart by Patrick Wiercioch.[27]

In the 2015–16 season, Cowen struggled to solidify himself within the Ottawa lineup, occasionally seeing himself a healthy scratch. Cowen requested a trade[29] and on February 9, 2016, Cowen was included in a blockbuster, nine-player trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Cowen, Colin Greening, Milan Michálek, Tobias Lindberg and Ottawa's 2017 second-round draft pick were sent to Toronto in exchange for Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf, Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert and Cody Donaghey.[30] On February 26, 2016, Cowen was placed on waivers by the Maple Leafs[31] and then assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies the next day. Cowen was then sent home by Toronto to await a buyout and given the freedom to contact other teams about a new contract for the 2016–17 season; buying out Cowen's contract would provide the Leafs with a $650,000 salary cap credit for the 2016–17 season.[29] [32] [33]

At the conclusion of the season, Cowen was placed on waivers with the intention of buying him out of his $3.1 million contract.[34] After clearing waivers, Cowen filed a grievance against the Toronto Maple Leafs, claiming that since he was on the injury reserve, he could not be bought out of his contract.[35] As a player younger than age 26, Cowen would have only been entitled to one-third of his remaining salary if bought out. On December 7, it was announced Cowen's grievance had been dismissed by an arbitrator, and that he would remain bought out.[36]

After sitting out the entirety of the 2016–17 season recuperating from injury, Cowen as a free agent agreed to professional tryout contract to attend the 2017 training camp of the Colorado Avalanche on August 30, 2017.[37] After participating in camp, Cowen was released by Colorado with one pre-season game remaining on September 27, 2017.[38]

International play

Cowen helped Canada West win the bronze medal at the 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. In the tournament, he had seven assists in six games en route to being named player of the game for Team West three times. Cowen was also an assistant captain on Canada's gold medal-winning team in the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament[39] [40] as well as having been one of five underage players on Canada's gold medal-winning team in the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships.[1]

Cowen was invited to Team Canada's selection camp for the 2010 World Junior Championships held in Regina during December 2009. Cowen was selected to Team Canada for the event, which won the silver medal at the event but did not play much.[41] [42] On December 19, 2010, Cowen was named alternate captain for the 2011 Canadian junior national team to Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires, along with his fellow returnees, Brayden Schenn of the Brandon Wheat Kings and Calvin de Haan of the Oshawa Generals. He won another silver medal with that team.[43]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06Saskatoon Contacts AAASMHL41412166680336
2006–07Saskatoon Contacts AAASMHL416222810331454
2006–07Spokane ChiefsWHL602226 0 1 1 6
2007–08Spokane ChiefsWHL68414186221 1 3 4 17
2008–09Spokane ChiefsWHL487142145
2009–10Spokane ChiefsWHL5982230747 1128
2009–10Ottawa SenatorsNHL10002
2010–11Spokane ChiefsWHL58183048919 0 9 9 4
2010–11Binghamton SenatorsAHL100440
2011–12Ottawa SenatorsNHL82 5 12 17 56 70114
Binghamton Senators AHL3 0 3 3 2
Ottawa Senators NHL7 1 0 1 10 10 0 3 3 21
Ottawa Senators NHL68 6 9 15 45
Ottawa Senators NHL54 3 6 9 45
Ottawa Senators NHL37 0 4 4 16
NHL totals 249 15 31 46 17417 0 4 4 25

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2008Canada WesternU1760774
2008CanadaIH1840006
2010CanadaWJC60112
2011CanadaWJC71014
Junior totals 2318912

Awards and honours

AwardsYear
CHL
Memorial Cup (Spokane Chiefs)2008
AHL
Calder Cup (Binghamton Senators)2011

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cowen gets his Canadian wish . The Spokesman-Review . June 27, 2009 . August 30, 2023.
  2. Web site: Spokane Chiefs earn berth in the MasterCard Memorial Cup . Canadian Hockey League . May 7, 2008 . August 30, 2023.
  3. Web site: Broken trophy still beautiful for Memorial Cup Champion Spokane Chiefs . The Hockey News . The Canadian Press . May 25, 2008 . August 30, 2023.
  4. Web site: WGL award winners . Calgary Herald . April 30, 2008 . August 30, 2023.
  5. News: Tim . Wharnsby . Cowen's health a question mark . . May 30, 2009 . June 21, 2009.
  6. Web site: Cowen big presence among draft prospects . Ottawa Senators . Rob . Brodie . June 11, 2009 . August 30, 2023.
  7. Web site: WHL unveils Western award winners . The Province . Ewen . Steve . March 18, 2010 . August 30, 2023.
  8. Web site: Spokane's Cowen signs contract with Ottawa . CBS KREM 2 . February 3, 2010 . August 30, 2023.
  9. Web site: Jared Cowen, Senators. 2010-04-10. National Hockey League.
  10. Web site: Senators big on Jared Cowen . Ottawa Senators . Brodie . Rob . June 26, 2009 . August 30, 2023.
  11. Web site: #11 Jared Cowen – The Hockey Spy's 2009 NHL Entry Draft Rankings . The Hockey Writers . 2010-05-06 . 2014-05-12.
  12. Web site: Cowen quickly becomes Binghamton workhorse . Ottawa Senators . Brodie . Rob . May 31, 2011 . August 30, 2023.
  13. Web site: Cowen's Senators win Calder Cup; Shock activate Markee White . The Spokesman-Review . June 8, 2011 . August 30, 2023.
  14. Web site: Sens' 6-game run ends as skidding Bruins win . https://web.archive.org/web/20230830133740/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/400046702 . dead . August 30, 2023 . ESPN . Associated Press . November 1, 2011 . August 30, 2023.
  15. Web site: Jared Cowen takes step back to Binghamton Senators . Ottawa Sun . Garrioch . Bruce . September 29, 2012 . August 30, 2023.
  16. Web site: Jared Cowen out for season in crippling blow to Ottawa Senators . Ottawa Sun . Garrioch . Bruce . November 12, 2012 . August 30, 2023.
  17. Web site: Cowen, Anderson return to Senators practice . https://archive.today/20130410032712/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=419222 . dead . April 10, 2013 . . 2013-03-27 . 2013-03-27.
  18. Web site: Cowen Returns . . 2013-04-16 . 2013-04-16.
  19. Web site: Senators' Cowen has hip surgery, out six to eight months . https://archive.today/20130115164902/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=409717 . dead . January 15, 2013 . . 2012-10-12 . 2012-10-12.
  20. Web site: Senators stay in sixth in east with win over Hurricanes . https://archive.today/20130628054834/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=420966 . dead . June 28, 2013 . . 2013-04-16 . 2013-04-16.
  21. Web site: Ottawa Senators scratches feeling fortunate after making late decision not to go to Boston Marathon finish line . https://archive.today/20130628044709/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Ottawa/2013/04/16/20747386.html . usurped . June 28, 2013 . . 2013-04-16 . 2013-04-16.
  22. News: Sportsnet . September 14, 2013 . Senators agree to four-year deal with Cowen . . September 14, 2013.
  23. Web site: Cowen looks to start fresh this year with Sens . The Canadian Press . Sportsnet . September 29, 2014 . August 30, 2023.
  24. Web site: Ottawa Senators' Jared Cowen suspended two games by hit on Buffalo Sabres' Zemgus Girgensons . National Post . The Canadian Press . December 11, 2013 . August 30, 2023.
  25. Web site: Senators defenceman Jared Cowen remains a spectator . Ottawa Sun . Garrioch . Bruce . October 25, 2014 . August 30, 2023.
  26. Web site: Senators defenceman Jared Cowen making major improvements . Ottawa Sun . Brennan . Don . November 9, 2014 . August 30, 2023.
  27. Web site: Senators defenceman Jared Cowen knows name could get called . Ottawa Sun . Brennan . Don . April 19, 2015 . August 30, 2023.
  28. Web site: Senators' Jared Cowen suspended three games for head hit . USA Today . Associated Press . February 23, 2015 . August 30, 2023.
  29. Web site: Jared Cowen's contract quirk an asset for Maple Leafs . Sportsnet . Johnston . Chris . October 20, 2016 . August 30, 2023.
  30. News: . February 9, 2016 . Maple Leafs deal D Phaneuf to Senators in nine-player trade . . February 10, 2016.
  31. Web site: Jared Cowen put on waivers, Leafs looking to move his contract . Johnston . Chris . Sportsnet . February 26, 2016 . August 30, 2023.
  32. Web site: Sportsnet . Joe . Pack . March 5, 2016 . Jared Cowen freed by Maple Leafs to find 'a new job' . March 9, 2015.
  33. News: Joffrey Lupul accuses Maple Leafs of injury cheating. Blinch. Mark. September 18, 2017. The Globe and Mail. September 18, 2017.
  34. Web site: Maple Leafs' Jared Cowen: On waivers as buyout candidate . CBS Sports . June 15, 2016 . August 30, 2023.
  35. Web site: Five questions the Maple Leafs face in August . Shillton . Kristen . TSN . 2016-08-02 . 2016-08-31.
  36. Web site: Jared Cowen on Maple Leafs: 'It was a joke of a process' . Sportsnet . Beneteau . Josh . September 15, 2017 . August 30, 2023.
  37. Web site: Cowen to join Avalanche on a PTO . . 2017-08-30 . 2017-08-30.
  38. Web site: Cowen released from PTO . . 2017-09-27 . 2017-09-27.
  39. Web site: Cowen, Canada make final . The Spokesman-Review . August 15, 2008 . August 30, 2023.
  40. Web site: 2009 NHL Draft: Jared Cowen . Florida Panthers . June 17, 2009 . August 30, 2023.
  41. Web site: 'Bigger role' awaits Cowen at 2011 world juniors . Ottawa Senators . Brodie . Rob . December 15, 2010 . August 30, 2023.
  42. Web site: U.S. wins gold; Sweden wins bronze . ESPN. January 5, 2010 . August 30, 2023.
  43. Web site: Late collapse costs Canada gold at world juniors . CBC Sports . Wharnsby . Tim . January 5, 2011 . August 30, 2023.