The Maple Leafs made long-term commitments to Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Is it enough to remake the look and feel of Toronto's defense? Many members of the Toronto Maple Leafs have been making their rounds worldwide this summer and showcasing their experiences. In the offseason, a handful of players returned home to train, workout, or relax. The latest to showcase his summer activities is forward Connor Dewar. Dewar, a proud Red River Métis athlete, made a special visit to the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) home office on Wednesday. The 25-year-old, acquired by the Leafs in a trade with the Minnesota Wild [https://x.com/MapleLeafs/status/1766217611539271878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1766217611539271878%7Ctwgr%5Ec31f8215c3c80a1c698b28d04baacf441c3b297f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehockeynews.com%2Fnhl%2Ftoronto-maple-leafs%2Flatest-news%2Fhopefully-he-can-help-us-on-the-penalty-kill-why-the-maple-leafs-acquired-center-connor-dewar-from-the-wild], hails from The Pas, Manitoba, and became the first Métis player to play for the Leafs since Darcy Tucker. Pictured on the Manitoba Métis Federation ‘X’ account [https://x.com/MBMetis_MMF/status/1818733975130849773], Dewar is seen holding a signed jersey while posing with President Chartrand. The moment reflects his appreciation of community pride and heritage, something Dewar has consistently highlighted throughout his professional career. In 2022, Dewar's journey as a Métis athlete in the NHL was featured in the YouTube series "Becoming Wild," which showcased his hometown and introduced his family and friends. The video is captioned, “From The Pas, Manitoba to the National Hockey League, Connor Dewar is proud of where he comes from and determined to make a name for himself, his heritage, and his hometown with the Minnesota Wild.” [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlC9hTreQ_c[/embed] Dewar played primarily in a bottom-six role during his 23-game total (regular season and postseason) with the Leafs. Over that span, the former third-round pick tallied six points (1G, 5A). However, the Leafs acquired Dewar for his penalty-killing abilities. Alongside David Kampf, Dewar became a key member of the top penalty-killing unit, providing defensive reliability and additional depth at center. General manager Brad Treliving emphasized Dewar’s defensive skills when saying, "What has attracted us to him is — he's a real defensively responsible center ice man. I don't think you can have too many center ice men. He's proficient on the penalty kill. A specific area that we wanted to see if we could help ourselves with," Treliving said. As a restricted free agent (RFA) at the end of the year, Dewar had filed for arbitration after scoring 11 goals and eight assists between the Leafs and Wild in the 2023-24 campaign. However, the process did not reach arbitration, as his visit to Manitoba came on the heels of signing a new one-year contract with the Leafs, worth $1.18 million, on July 23. The forward will be a restricted free agent again at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. This agreement ensures Dewar's continued presence on the team, where his contributions as a reliable two-way forward have been valued, especially in the postseason. His defensive presence will help maintain the team’s depth in the bottom six as the club continues to look for additional offensive pieces. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related 'Brick By Brick': Maple Leafs' Max Domi Shares Workout Photos on Instagram as NHL Season Approaches [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/brick-by-brick-maple-leafs-max-domi-shares-workout-photos-on-instagram-as-nhl-season-approaches] Maple Leafs' Joe Bowen and Family Try Out for Family Feud Canada—Will They Make It? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-joe-bowen-and-family-try-out-for-family-feud-canada-will-they-make-it] Minnesota Golden Gophers' Ella Huber Posts Photos with Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies While Vacationing Around Europe [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/minnesota-golden-gophers-ella-huber-posts-photos-with-maple-leafs-matthew-knies-while-vacationing-around-europe] News from THN.com Can Canada's Coaching Powerhouse Solve the Goaltending Question for 4 Nations Face-Off? [https://thehockeynews.com/news/can-canadas-coaching-powerhouse-solve-the-goaltending-question-for-4-nations-face-off] NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On the Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-rumor-roundup-latest-on-the-carolina-hurricanes-and-winnipeg-jets] Collecting Connor: Rising NHL Star Bedard Saw His Hockey Cards Soar In Value [https://thehockeynews.com/news/rising-nhl-star-connor-bedard-saw-his-hockey-cards-soar-in-value-this-season]
