Not McDavid, but the two Con[n]or's might be this year's version of Michael Bunting

Every time I have to type out Connor Dewar or Conor Timmins' name, I have to double and triple check to make sure I got the right amount of "n's" for the respective newcomer.

Dewar and Timmins were acquired as part of a Toronto Maple Leafs salary dump, and Kyle Dubas picked up both of them for practically nothing. Since they've arrived in Pittsburgh, they've provided an unexpected spark.

Remember last year when Michael Bunting scored six goals and 13 assists in 21 games since he was acquired in the Jake Guentzel trade? Remember this goal?

I'll never forget where I was when this happened. This was the peak of the delusion the Penguins garnered at the end of last season after they'd seemingly punted the season when they traded Guentzel.

This year at the trade deadline, the Con[n]or's have come in and made a huge difference in very disproportionate ways to what their expectations were.

Connor Dewar

Leafs fans are already perplexed at how Connor Dewar looks like an actually playable NHLer. The fact of the matter is that since he joined the Penguins, he's looked exactly like Michael Bunting.

Dewar has been extremely active on the forecheck, and it even led to a goal of his own on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. Sean McDonough was all over it on the call.

In just four games, Dewar has three goals on seven shots and a +4 rating. He's been getting third line minutes with Blake Lizotte and Noel Acciari and has accounted for eight hits.

He's doing the greasy work that Michael Bunting was known to do. He's a big energy guy, and it's shown with the way his line has increased in production since he arrived.

Losing Michael Bunting to the Nashville Predators was a blow to some Penguins fans. They liked his energy and hit grittiness on a team that has sometimes lacked some luster. But in Bunting's absence, Dewar has picked it up in the short term, and he may be auditioning for a role on the team next year.

Conor Timmins

The other Conor in the deal has also been playing well since joining the black and gold. Timmins potted his third goal of the season in his third game with the Penguins against the Blues on Thursday.

Timmins also logged two assists in the beatdown of the Devils on Sunday. He logged just over 10 minutes of ice time in his first two games, but in the last two he's hovered right around 17 minutes a game, indicating a level of trust Mike Sullivan has with the new defenseman.

Look at that impact rating for Timmins, who led the team against New Jersey. This was the second game in a row where he was among the top three in production.

For whatever reason, Conor Timmins has found a level of comfort on the third line with the Penguins since he arrived. His goal and two assists compliment his three blocks and seven hits. Timmins is working well on both sides of the ice, and it's shown in the way the Penguins have won four straight.

Projecting the Future for the Con[n]ors

Both Dewar and Timmins were seemingly just placeholders when they were acquired at the deadline. The Penguins needed bodies on the ice, and a couple salary dumps seemed to be a good option for that.

However, their on-ice production is starting to turn some heads. Both are pending free agents at the end of this season, but if they can finish out the final few weeks of the season at the level of production they've currently displayed, I can see them coming back next year.

The Penguins have needed depth options that aren't 35 years-old, and Dewar's spark seems to be a good fit for a fourth liner who can kill penalties.

Similarly, Timmins has provided stability at the blue line, something the Penguins have been desperate for all season.

Both would likely be cheap, and if they continue to enjoy success with the Penguins the rest of the year, bringing them back might be a team-friendly option for 2025-26. We'll continue to monitor if their production keeps this pace.