Nick Robertson has garnered a lot of support from Toronto Maple Leafs fans, who believe he deserves a bigger opportunity to showcase his skills among the team’s top 6 forwards. Since being selected 53rd overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Robertson has been touted as one of Toronto’s most promising prospects. His ability to score in the NHL and perform consistently on the ice has been evident, despite the limited attention his acquisition by the team has received. On the other hand, Connor Dewar, acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager at this year’s trade deadline, has flown under the radar since joining the team. Little has been said about his addition, positive or negative. Both players have valuable contributions to make, so let’s delve deeper to determine which one brings more value to the Leafs. Although they currently occupy different roles, their backgrounds are quite similar. In their final junior hockey seasons, both players led their respective teams in scoring. In the AHL, Robertson, who is 22 years old, has averaged 0.95 points per game over 60 games, while Dewar, who is 24, has averaged 0.57 points per game over 103 AHL games. However, despite his potential, Robertson has faced challenges in establishing himself in the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup due to injuries and inconsistent play. Over the past four seasons, he has struggled to make an impact, particularly given the competitiveness of the team. His NHL scoring statistics, while less impressive than his performance at lower levels, have shown promise. Dewar’s NHL offensive output has been even lower than Robertson’s. Despite playing more NHL games, Dewar has produced only 39 points. In terms of physical attributes, Robertson stands at 5’9″ and 178 lbs, while Dewar is slightly larger at 5’10” and 183 lbs. Both are known for their speed on the ice. Dewar, who is two years older than Robertson, seems to have embraced a different role within the team, focusing on defensive play and providing energy. This has filled a need for the Toronto Maple Leafs, particularly in anticipation of the upcoming playoffs, utilizing minimal salary cap space. Robertson, on the other hand, needs consistent playing time in an offensive role to develop his potential, a prospect that is currently limited by the presence of established forwards ahead of him in the lineup. Consequently, Dewar appears to be more valuable to the team due to its current needs. However, this does not discount Robertson’s value as a legitimate NHL scorer, especially in times when injuries occur and he is called upon to step up. Although Robertson’s long-term value to the team is substantial, Dewar’s role within the current healthy Leafs lineup gives him the edge. If the Leafs’ lineup is healthy, Dewar will start while Robertson will not.
