Upcoming move to Canada for Matt Dumba?!

Several teams across the NHL will turn to the trade market ahead of the March 3rd deadline to bolster on the back end. And it feels like every year at this time, we heard the name of Minnesota Wild blue liner Matt Dumba. The guy has survived two expansion drafts and even more trade deadlines as a Wild. However, Darren Dreger reports on Insider Trading on TSN that he may have gotten rival teams, especially up North, to give Minnesota a call to see what it would take to pry him out despite the Wild needing him badly at the moment:

“When I think of a team that may have a defenseman available, I think of Matt Dumba and the Minnesota Wild. There’s no question that the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators have reached out and do have interest in Dumba. Why wouldn’t you? He’s 28-years-old, he’s a right-shot defenseman and he’s a pending unrestricted free agent. The problem from the Wild’s standpoint is they need him. They’re playing pretty well right now. They’re not sure just yet they are ready to move on from Matt Dumba even though you look into the future and you see the cap issue of the Minnesota Wild … But the price would be high and then the Wild would have to hit the market potentially to find someone to replace Matt Dumba.”

Dumba is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and could be moved as a rental for a contender.

The Wild could move him in the hopes of getting something in return that still helps them for the current season. There is no doubt that Dumba would be a great pickup for any contender as he logs logs more even-strength ice time than anyone else on his roster.

Dumba carries a $6-million cap hit and can submit a 10 team no trade list. If Ottawa is on it, that would save Dumba from moving to a club that won’t reach the postseason this spring. The Senators sit seventh in the Atlantic Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference at 18-19-3. He could end up in Edmonton where the Oilers desperately need help on the back end to be a true contender.

Last month, Wild insider Michael Russo explained that it may require a lateral move or “hockey trade” for the Wild to move Dumba, rather than the typical seller’s ask of draft picks and prospects.

Recommended articles:

• Rumor: Matt Dumba done in Minnesota.
• Brady Tkachuk absolutely tunes Matt Dumba up in very one sided scrap
• Matt Dumba talks openly about a trade this season
• Feud erupts between Wild GM Guerin and free agent Kevin Fiala
• Matt Dumba’s days numbered with the Wild