RFA Connor Dewar to Get $1.4 Million AAV Contract Extension with Toronto Maple Leafs: Examining Defensive Effect
At the trade deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed 24-year-old forward Connor Dewar from the Minnesota Wild in an attempt to extend his restricted-free agent (RFA) contract. Given his age and style of play, Dewar, a defense-first, bottom-six player, is likely to sign a short-term contract, making it difficult to compare his current contract to previous ones. After the move, Dewar’s play improved dramatically in the previous season, leading the Leafs in defensive metrics despite his lackluster scoring output.
Based on the numbers from the previous season—11 goals and 19 points—the expected goal share (xGF%) following the transaction was 51.25%, or 1.59% of the 2024–25 salary cap, for a new contract.
Indeed, Dewar‘s defensive prowess is clear, but his offensive capabilities remain limited, capping his potential to command higher salaries like those of more balanced players. His size and physicality also don’t match those of peers like Yakov Trenin, affecting his overall valuation.State of Play
- he Leafs are managing a tight salary cap situation for 2024–25.
- Dewar is now a key player in Toronto’s bottom-six with prominent defensive responsibilities
What’s Next
How Tij Iginla Could Save Minnesota in the NHL Draft from the Legacy of His Father
A number of teams are probably going to give priority to defensemen in the 2024 draft, which might allow Tij to fall through the ranks.
If the Wild pass on Tij at 13th overall, teams like the St.
Next StepsIn the future, the Wild will have to choose whether to use their 13th overall pick to acquire Tij in order to prevent him from ending up in the hands of a The existence of Tij Iginla, the son of longtime Wild rival Jarome Iginla, presents a problem for the Minnesota Wild going into the 2024 NHL Draft.
Tij Iginla tied for sixth place in the WHL last season with 47 goals for the Kelowna Rockets.
Present Situation