Conor Dewar's nickname revealed during the HNIC broadcast
The Leafs were relatively quiet on trade deadline day this past Friday, completing just one trade that impacts the organization at the NHL level, acquiring 24-year-old Connor Dewar from the Minnesota Wild. The deal was announced shortly after the 3pm ET deadline once the trade call had been completed, and while the move didn't necessarily move the needle for fans, the add may end up being a very important one for the team.
One of the biggest areas of need for the Leafs was to bolster their bottom-6, add another center and address a need on the penalty kill. The Dewar addition checks all 3 boxes. Not only that, but he's also a pending restricted free agent, meaning that the Leafs will have a couple of years of control as well as Dewar is not a rental player.
Last night against Montreal, we saw some of what Dewar will bring to the table, as the young forward did not look out of place in Toronto. He showcased his relentless motor, smart defensive positioning, good decision-making and excellent hockey IQ on the penalty kill with his quick, opportune changes in his 11:13 of ice time in his Leafs debut.
Prior to puck drop last night, Dewar met with the media to give a brief pre-game interview. A man of few words, when Dewar was asked how much his upbringing in The Pas, Manitoba adds to his character, he responded by saying "it's everything I am, a scrappy person from up north." Sportsnet's Kevin Bieksa also revealed Dewar's nickname from junior on the broadcast. Not only is his nickname a cool one, but apt as well. Bieksa revealed that Dewar was known to his junior teammates as "The Pitbull".
This name probably suits Dewar just fine, as he is a dog person through and through. He doesn't own a pitbull, though. Dewar's dogs are a pair of basset hounds named Larry and Frank.
While some are disappointed by the addition of Dewar at the deadline because of the idea they were holding onto, that the Leafs were going to take a big swing on a significant player, the addition of Dewar may be exactly what the Leafs needed. With 1 blocked shot and 1 hit last night, the new Leaf looks like he'll fit in nicely once he begins to get more comfortable with the group.
Welcome to the hockey mecca, Pitbull.
| POLL | ||
MARS 10 | 341 ANSWERS Conor Dewar's nickname revealed during the HNIC broadcast Which Leaf has the coolest nickname? | ||
| Dewar (The Pitbull) | 103 | 30.2 % |
| Benoit (The Milkman) | 144 | 42.2 % |
| Matthews (Papi, Tone, Tony) | 94 | 27.6 % |
| Nylander (Willy Styles) | 0 | 0 % |
| List of polls | ||
