The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Connor Dewar from the Minnesota Wild last season, mere minutes before the trade deadline. The deal included Dewar landing in Toronto, while a 2026 fourth-round pick and forward prospect Dmitry Ovchinnikov were sent to Minnesota.
At the time, Dewar had scored a career-high 10 goals for the Wild in just 57 games, and was a huge part of the team’s penalty kill, averaging 2:23 minutes per game shorthanded. The pesky forward had also landed 94 hits and was winning almost 50% of his faceoffs. Toronto needed some more versatile depth and aggressiveness among their bottom-six forwards, Dewar fit the bill perfectly.
Going from a Western Conference bottom feeder to a playoff-bound team in the Eastern Conference could take some getting used to, turns out Dewar’s biggest adjustment was how early he needed to leave his house for practice:
What’s the biggest adjustment to playing in Toronto for Connor Dewar?
“Traffic.”
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/FfI7qLuJsH
— BarDown (@BarDown) March 29, 2024
Gridlock or not, the results on the scoresheet weren’t necessarily anything to write home about. Dewar finished last season with five points in 17 regular season games in blue and white and added one assist in the first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Boston Bruins. GM Brad Treliving doubled down on his acquisition, awarding Dewar during the summer with a $1.18-million contract for 2024-25, and he’ll become a restricted free agent at season’s end.
Heading into the ’24-25 season, with Craig Berube now behind the bench, Dewar looks to make an impact on both sides of the puck, fighting for a role among the Leafs’ third and fourth lines. He’s been slowed up recovering from shoulder surgery and is set to start the season on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), which means he’ll for sure be out, at least, the first 10 games of the season.
The Expectation – piss off opponents, in any way possible
Treliving preached more piss and vinegar once he was hired as GM and Dewar fits the bill. He’s not afraid to drop the gloves, but there’s much more to it. Dewar is hard on the forecheck, he loves throwing his weight around, and he runs a high-octane motor, which can help swing momentum within games.
The Pas, Manitoba native isn’t flashy, but he’s effective. His sandpaper style is something the Leafs need more of, especially to build a new identity under Berube. Whether it’s laying a hit on the forecheck, blocking a shot at a key time in the game, or getting himself in sound defensive position, Dewar needs to worry about doing the little things that matter most in games. His attention to these details is what will earn him Berube’s trust.
Once Dewar is healthy, he’ll get a look, but given the Leafs’ internal competition at training camp, there’s no doubt he’s going to be in tough to crack the lineup on a regular basis. Having him start the season on LTIR is actually a blessing in disguise, as it allows Treliving to navigate his finances, and ensure the team is cap compliant.
Dewar will have a chance to carve a role out for himself with the Maple Leafs, he’s just going to start the season behind the eight ball a little bit, considering he won’t have a full training camp or see any preseason action.
The Goal – Play himself into a multi-year extension
The 25-year-old Dewar will have a chance this season to solidify himself as a member of the team’s secondary moving forward. All the attention gets put onto the superstars on the Leafs’ roster and rightfully so, however in order to win multiple playoff rounds, it’s the role players who need to also help move the needle.
Dewar’s going to be up against the likes of Ryan Reaves, Pontus Holmberg, David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, Steven Lorentz, and Bobby McMann for bottom-six spots. There’s been some chatter about a potential trade before the season starts, so it will be interesting to see who is still on the roster once Dewar is healthy. Considering he’s coming off surgery and a quiet end to last season in Toronto, he’s not a prime trade candidate.
At 5-foot-10, Dewar doesn’t have the size of a Lorentz, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be just as effective in his role. Once inserted into the Leafs’ lineup he must get off to a strong start. Whether that be down the middle of the ice or on the wing, Dewar must seize the moment and make a solid first impression on Berube. Play fast, play hard, it’s as simple as that.
If he’s going to have a strong season with the Maple Leafs, Dewar needs to be an above-average penalty killer, he needs to make life miserable for opponents, and he’ll need to chip in on the scoresheet, from time to time. If he’s not able to meet these expectations, there’s a good chance Dewar is wearing different threads to start next season.
