Possible Rangers’ free-agent option off the board, re-signs with Penguins
It’s not like this Connor would’ve been as intriguing a free-agent option as that Connor for the New York Rangers come July 1. But it’s worth noting that Connor Dewar re-signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, seven months after Connor McDavid re-upped with the Edmonton Oilers.
Each could’ve been an unrestricted free agent this summer. And though far from an apples to apples comparison, the Rangers likely had some level of interest in both forwards.
It’s obvious why the Rangers coveted McDavid, who just won his sixth Art Ross Trophy after leading the NHL with 136 points this season. But before Chris Drury and Co. could even begin seriously dreaming about No. 97 wearing the Blueshirt on Broadway, McDavid re-signed with the Oilers on Oct. 6, a two-year, $25 million extension.
He’s up for his fourth Hart Trophy as League MVP, but McDavid also isn’t happy, irritated with the Oilers going backward this year after two straight finishes as Stanley Cup runners-up. If McDavid ever tries to force his way out of Edmonton, Drury will sharpen his elbows and perhaps use Matt Rempe as a battering ram to help knock other GMs on their ass so that he can get to the front of the line to make his pitch to the Oilers.
Failing that, McDavid can become a UFA in 2028.
But enough about him. The more realistic option was Dewar, a journeyman who found his way with the Penguins this season, and played an important role in helping them get back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2021-22. The 26-year-old established career highs across the board with 14 goals, 16 assists and 30 points, and led Penguins forwards with 144 hits and all players in total short-handed ice time on their impressive penalty kill that tied for sixth in the NHL (81.4 percent).
Dewar added two goals in Pittsburgh’s first-round defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. Trailing the best-of-7 series 3-0, the Penguins won Game 4 at home 4-2, with Dewar finishing off the victory scoring an empty-net goal. Dewar then scored another goal and earned Third Star honors in Pittsburgh’s 3-2 road win in Game 5.
Since Rangers coach Mike Sullivan stated at breakup day that the team needs to fortify its bottom six to lighten the load on a top-six forward group which includes a pair of 33-year-olds in Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller who play heavy minutes, Dewar was an intriguing option.
That Sullivan coached Dewar in Pittsburgh after the Penguins acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, only added to the possibility for New York. Dewar scored four goals and had three assists in 17 games under Sullivan to close out the 2024-25 season.
Since the Rangers had success with Tye Kartye, a bottom-six forward with similar size and on-ice attributes who blossomed in New York after being claimed off waivers from the Seattle Kraken, the argument for pursuing Dewar made some sense. Perhaps he’s another late-bloomer, one that could fit on the fourth line.
But he’s no longer an option for the Rangers. Dewar landed a two-year, $4.5 million contract to stay with the Penguins, a move that was not unexpected for a team with plenty of cap space and a desire to keep a winning formula intact.
