The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed Connor Dewar to a one-year contract extension just above the league minimum. While this deal might seem minor, it reflects broader issues in the Leafs’ team-building strategy.
On the positive side, the Leafs avoided significantly overpaying Dewar or giving him any no-trade protection, which they have done frequently in the past. Dewar, at 24, does have some potential upside, albeit limited. His contract, valued at $1.18 million, allows the team to bury $1.15 million of it in the minors if necessary, minimizing financial risk if he underperforms.
However, this decision raises questions about the Leafs’ principle of paying more than the league minimum for players who are largely interchangeable with cheaper alternatives. By continually blocking young prospects with veterans of limited upside, the Leafs may be hindering their own player development pipeline.
The Leafs’ approach to team-building, often referred to as the “Studs and Duds” method, under GM Kyle Dubas and President Brendan Shanahan, has been criticized. This strategy focuses on paying top-tier players while trying to fill the rest of the roster with cost-effective options. However, this has led to overpaying for marginal players, which hurts the team’s overall cap flexibility.
Connor Dewar’s performance last season provides little justification for his re-signing. Acquired at the trade deadline, Dewar did not make a significant impact. He played 17 games for the Leafs, during which his line struggled with puck possession but managed a respectable expected goals rating of 51%. However, this small sample size and his poor performance in Minnesota, where he had a higher volume of minutes, suggest limited value. Over two seasons with the Wild, Dewar was consistently outplayed, with just 40% of the goals and 47% of the expected goals during his minutes.
The decision to trade a fourth-round pick for Dewar and then re-sign him above the league minimum is puzzling. Any rookie could likely match Dewar’s contributions, with the added potential for development. At 24, players rarely experience significant improvement, making this investment questionable.
In conclusion, while Dewar’s re-signing doesn’t severely hurt the team, it exemplifies the Leafs’ concerning trend of overpaying marginal players. This strategy may not drastically impact the Leafs in the short term, but it highlights a need for more prudent and strategic roster management to maximize the team’s potential and salary cap efficiency.