The NHL trade deadline is always a gamble, and sometimes, you end up looking like a genius. Other times? Well, you end up watching a guy you just traded suddenly start playing like a superstar. Right now, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving might be feeling a bit of the latter.
Yep, it’s about Connor Dewar. If you blinked, you might have missed his time with the Leafs this season because, let’s be honest, he wasn’t doing much. In 54 games wearing blue and white, he found the back of the net exactly once—and that was last season. This year? Zero. Nada. Zilch.
So, when the trade deadline rolled around, it wasn’t shocking to see Dewar (along with Conor Timmins) get shipped off to the Pittsburgh Penguins in what was essentially a salary dump. It felt like a footnote of a move, something you shrug at and move on.
Well, fast forward a few games, and suddenly, Dewar is lighting it up in Pittsburgh. Three goals in his first four games, including two against the New Jersey Devils? An assist against Columbus? Excuse me, what?!
Leafs fans, who barely got a glimpse of his scoring touch, might be feeling a mix of emotions—mostly confusion and frustration. Meanwhile, Penguins fans are probably loving this unexpected bonus.
Connor Dewar has done something NO ONE has been able to all season for the Penguins…@NickBelsky discusses his hot start with the team and shares his Penguins Power Rankings! Tune in!
— Tip of the Ice-Burgh Podcast (@IceBurghPodcast) March 17, 2025
🎧 https://t.co/VOcUno1Dkk
🎥 https://t.co/g6jKy87gmr pic.twitter.com/zZcOhxMkLT
Of course, to be fair to Toronto, it’s a tough lineup to crack, and Dewar was always going to have a hard time finding his place. But seeing him thrive elsewhere? Yeah, that’s gotta sting a little for Treliving.
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At the end of the day, you can’t help but root for a guy like Dewar. The NHL can be brutal, and one minute you’re on the fourth line struggling for minutes, the next you’re making headlines in a new city. Let’s see if he keeps it up. If he does, Leafs fans might be shaking their heads for a while.