Report: Maple Leafs win arbitration case with Jared Cowen

The Toronto Maple Leafs have secured a win off the ice.

The club has reportedly won its arbitration case with defenseman Jared Cowen, whose contract will remain bought out, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

The argument on Cowen's end was that the one year remaining on his deal could not be bought out due to his ongoing recovery from hip surgery, technically rendering him injured.

This allegation appears to have been deemed unfounded.

Now, the contract is void, meaning Cowen is a free agent and the Maple Leafs will hold onto the cap credit instead of having to pay the $4.5 million in actual salary that would have remained on the deal.

The 25-year-old defenseman was acquired by the Maple Leafs in the trade that sent former captain Dion Phaneuf to Ottawa. Cowen played 37 games for the Senators last season before the swap, recording four assists. He did not make an appearance with Toronto due to the hip injury.