It’s no secret that this season has seen horrible defensive play from the Maple Leafs, particularly on the penalty kill. With 3.13 goals against per game, they rank 20th in the league; with 77.4% of penalties killed, they rank 22nd. The absence of defensive depth has been a big worry since game one, given that they are an extremely dangerous offensive club.
They required to add a forward with the ability to mix offensive play in the defensive zone with smart positioning. Dewar has demonstrated his ability to be that player, and the statistics support it. It’s evident in his retrievals, his willingness to press and stymie plays on the penalty kill, or his potent transition game.
It’s official, the NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone. While many anticipated the Toronto Maple Leafs try to do something big, they did most of their shopping in advance, bringing in size and a strong defensive presence in Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson. With talk about bringing in another right shot defenseman, they went and addressed their bottom-six on deadline day, acquiring Connor Dewar from the Minnesota Wild.
While it may seem like a move that may not offer much on the surface, Dewar brings a lot more to the table for a team’s bottom-six that could use a burst of energy, consistency and steady play. Given how there has been a revolving door of players on the fourth line, not many have shown their value or worth to try and stay in the lineup.
