Incredible size and reach…has the skating ability, speed, balance and mobility to dominate his position…plays a physical game and absolutely crushed opponents along the boards…closes his gaps quickly and uses his long reach well…gets his body into shooting lanes and disrupts offensive flow….has a good point shot with is both hard and accurate…anticipates the play well…Cowen is a great defensive defender that has the ability to elevate his game. Offensively he is underdeveloped…carries the puck well but lacks confidence with it…shows flashes of a dominant puck rushing game but ultimately gives it up too quickly to his forwards…can get caught trying to do too much and sucked out of position…questions about his physical health persist. (May 2009)