Now that we've covered the Minnesota Wild defense, it's time to look at the forwards. Some of the forwards were traded at the trade deadline, but the number of games they played will still be included in the report. The first forward was Connor Dewar, who was small but loved to throw his body around.
The fourth line is commonly known as the checking line, and Dewar didn't forget that, but he also showed scoring ability. In this article, we'll look at the difficult and strong parts of his game and evaluate them. Since the Wild didn't have a postseason and Dewar was going to leave anyway, here's his regular season performance before the trade deadline when he was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs. We'll start with the difficult parts of his game as it relates to the defensive side of things.
Dewar needs a block
Dewar is known for his defensive prowess, especially his penalty kill ability, but his blocked shots have been lackluster this season, with just 27 blocked shots in 57 games played, compared to 50 in 81 games last season and 22 in 35 games in 2021-22. Dewar has demonstrated his ability to block shots in the past, and the Wild needed him to do just that last season.
Dewar had fewer blocks than Jared Spurgeon, who played in only 16 games the entire season due to injury issues. More blocked shots equal fewer goals conceded, and while Dewar did block shots, he should have had more. Dewar's even-strength points were roughly the same from last season to this one, but his penalty kill stats decreased slightly.
Despite the drop in games played, his overall scoring only declined slightly compared to his penalty kill. He has four shorthanded points in 2022-23, compared to just one last season. He's no longer on the Wild's roster, so these issues aren't their problem. But if he does return, they'll expect better results and will need it, especially on the penalty kill.
Dewar scores a goal
Dewar isn't known for his scoring prowess, but he found a way to nearly double his goal total last season. He had 10 goals last season, which was his first double-figure goal season in his three NHL seasons. Many Wild players struggled last season, but Dewar was one of the few who only had issues in one or two areas.
He got more hits and shots on goal, more takeaways and less giveaways. Overall, it's hard to complain about his play, except for a blocked shot and maybe a few more assists. He also kept his penalty minutes down and got more time on the ice. Again, he's not on the Wild roster, so his development doesn't impact the Wild. But it's good to see a former player succeed.
Dewar's overall rating
Dewar's season was mostly fine, with a few exceptions. He was a small, agile player who delivered big hits with energy that sometimes helped change the course of games, and he never lacked physical strength, which is an asset for any team he plays for and something the Wild were missing after the trade deadline.
RELATED: Introducing new Maple Leafs forward Connor Dewar
The last few evaluation reports have stated that only a few players will receive an above average rating because it wasn't their fault that the Wild didn't make the postseason, and Dewar just joined that list. His performance was close to improvement, which is why he got a C+ for effort. He could have done more, but he did what he needed to do as a fourth-string player, so he's not rated high or low. Although he's no longer wearing a Wild jersey, it will be interesting to see how he performs for the Maple Leafs this season.
