Yahoo Sports 'Definitely Doesn't Go Unnoticed': Connor Dewar Steps Up To Fight Flyers' Joel Farabee, Brings Maple Leafs Energy
PHILADELPHIA — Getting ready to take on the Philadelphia Flyers for the back half of a home-and-home series, the Toronto Maple Leafs inserted forward Ryan Reaves into the lineup. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube wanted to add physicality to the group.
He didn't directly say it was because of what occurred in the first meeting between the two games. But it could be inferred. Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway bumped Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby, leading to a fight between Hathaway and Jake McCabe. Unfortunately for the Leafs and McCabe, the defenseman's head hit the ice while falling and the player is out without no timeframe, except that he'll be forced to miss games this week after being placed on injured reserve.
But it wasn't Reaves who fought in Toronto's 3-2 win against the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday. Instead, it was Maple Leafs forward Connor Dewar dropping the gloves with Joel Farabee.
The fight occurred early and probably shelved all animosity between both clubs following the McCabe injury.
The Maple Leafs acquired Dewar last season at the NHL trade deadline from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick and prospect forward Dmitry Ovchinnikov. He made an impact down the stretch, playing in 17 regular season games, primarily playing on the fourth line and contributing regularly on Toronto's penalty kill. He also played in six of the club's seven playoff games against the Boston Bruins in their playoff
After requiring off-season shoulder surgery, Dwear was forced to miss the four week of the season while on long-term injured reserve. But since that time he's been a mainstay on the fourth line except for a pair of games.
His teammates have appreciated his versatility.
"I think he's an extremely high IQ player. I think he does everything, all the little things really well," Auston Matthews said of Dewar. "He may not be the biggest, fastest guy on the ice, but I think he's extremely effective when he's out there. For a guy like him to try to set the tone there in the first period as well, it's huge. Doesn't go unnoticed."
That wasn't Dewar's first fight in the NHL but it was his first with the Leafs. With the game tied 0-0, Farabee told the ESPN broadcast that he asked for the scrap because it "was a little quiet in the building.
Joel Farabee on the fight with Connor Dewar:
"Just was a little quiet in the building so I figured I'd ask him. Thankfully he gave me one, he's a really good guy."#Flyers pic.twitter.com/qfJv48uVwH— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) January 8, 2025
The Leafs didn't get going until much later in the game as John Tavares, Matthews and Matthew Knies scored goals later in the game.
But when the Leafs have been looking at fourth-line versatile winger/center options, it appears Dewar has supplanted Pontus Holmberg in that spot, who hasn't returned to the lineup since recovering from an illness.
"He's a motor out there, you know. He doesn't stop." Berube said of Dewar.
"He gives you everything he's got every shift. Big fight for us tonight. We didn't respond good enough to it. But he's been a good player for us."
Dewar has three assists in 24 games with the Leafs this season.
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