Perfect timing : Toronto Maple Leafs RFA Connor Dewar get a $3.4 Million AAV Contract Extension due to his…

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

Dewar is expected to sign a two-year deal worth about $1.4 million annually, solidifying his role as a defensive specialist for the Leafs. After completing rehabilitation from surgery, he anticipates returning as an essential component of the team’s penalty kill and defensive setups.
Bottom Line
Connor Dewar is poised for a modest but crucial contract extension that balances the Maple Leafs’ salary constraints with the need for strong defensive players in their bottom-six lineup.

How Tij Iginla Could Save Minnesota in the NHL Draft from the Legacy of His Father

At present, Elite Prospects has Tij Iginla ranked thirteenth in his class.
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.
Louis Blues and Nashville Predators might move up to grab him.
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.
 With 47 goals in the WHL last season, Tij stands out as a promising prospect despite Jarome’s menacing presence on the ice. Tij, ranked 13th by Elite Prospects, fits the Wild’s requirements with his speed, strength, and ability to make shots. Securing his talents in Minnesota through draft selection might spare another twenty years of agony from an Iginla.By the Numbers In 84 games against the Wild, Jarome Iginla recorded 39 goals and 33 assists.
Tij Iginla tied for sixth place in the WHL last season with 47 goals for the Kelowna Rockets.
Present Situation
division rival. Alternatively, a trade-up scenario could see other teams capitalize on his falling draft stock. The decision will be pivotal in shaping Minnesota’s future competitiveness in the Central Division.Bottom LineDrafting Tij Iginla offers Minnesota a dual benefit: acquiring a stellar young talent and preventing him from becoming another Wild tormentor. To ensure a brighter path toward the Stanley Cup, the Wild should prioritize keeping an Iginla asset close rather than facing his repercussions again.

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