The Toronto Maple Leafs are sticking with one of the pieces they acquired at last year’s trade deadline. 

The Maple Leafs re-signed Connor Dewar to a one-year, $1.18 million contract Tuesday as the two sides opted to avoid arbitration.

Dewar joined the Maple Leafs from the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline in March in exchange for centre Dmitry Ovchinnikov and a fourth-round pick. 

The 25-year-old Dewar had one goal and four assists in 17 regular season games with the Maple Leafs and one assist in six playoff games. Overall, he had 11 goals and eight assists in 74 games. 

Dewar was drafted in the third round, 92nd overall, by the Wild in 2018. He spent the better part of three seasons with the Iowa Wild, Minnesota’s AHL affiliate. 

Since making his NHL debut in 2021, he has tallied 19 goals and 24 points in 190 games. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs and forward Connor Dewar have reached an agreement on a one-year contract worth $1.18 million to avoid arbitration. The deal comes after weeks of negotiations between the two parties, with both sides ultimately coming to a resolution that benefits both the team and the player.

Dewar, who was selected by the Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft, has shown promise in his young career. The 21-year-old forward has spent the past two seasons playing for the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, where he has impressed with his scoring ability and work ethic.

By signing Dewar to a one-year contract, the Maple Leafs are showing their commitment to developing the young forward and giving him an opportunity to prove himself at the NHL level. The $1.18 million contract is a fair deal for both parties, as it allows Dewar to earn a significant salary while also giving the Maple Leafs some flexibility with their salary cap.

Arbitration can often be a contentious process for both players and teams, as it involves a third party making a decision on a player’s salary. By reaching an agreement before going to arbitration, the Maple Leafs and Dewar have avoided any potential conflict and can now focus on preparing for the upcoming season.

Overall, this contract agreement is a positive development for both the Maple Leafs and Connor Dewar. It gives Dewar an opportunity to continue his development with the organization while also providing the team with a talented young player who has the potential to make an impact at the NHL level. Fans of the Maple Leafs will be excited to see what Dewar can bring to the team this season.