As long as the Toronto Maple Leafs remain an active NHL team, there will be daily rumours about players they might be interested in.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been said to be on the hunt for an upgraded blue-line since before the injuries to TJ Brodie and Jake Muzzin. With two of their better players out longterm, the rumours become more frequent, and much more interesting.
This week we have Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff listing Matt Dumba an honorable mention in his list of possible Jake Muzzin Replacements.
Rumor has it that the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to add a defenseman. Using the rental market to do it seems to be their best option. Toronto has been dealing with numerous injuries this season. The biggest of which is the injury to Muzzin. He is presumed to be out for the remainder of this season, and could likely retire.
This season is not the first time that Matt Dumba’s name has come up in Toronto trade rumors. Every season he is listed as a potential trade target for Toronto. Dumba’s $6 million salary cap hit could be why a deal never got done. Now in the final year of his contract, Minnesota might be willing to retain 50% of his salary for the right return.
Dumba currently has two goals and two assists for four points in 18 games this season. The rugged defenseman has also compiled 29 blocked shots and 23 hits. As much as it would benefit Toronto to add Dumba’s experience to their blue-line, I think they should focus more on acquiring a star forward.
Cost of Toronto Maple Leafs Acquiring Matt Dumba
The only way for the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire Matt Dumba would be for the Minnesota Wild to retain 50% of his salary. Getting them to keep $3 million of his contract will increase their asking price. Any deal to get Dumba for $3 million will cost a prospect and a first-round pick in either the 2023 or 2024 NHL draft.
Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas has a little wiggle room with his salary cap. It is possible to add Dumba at $3 million without trading away a roster player. The Maple Leafs GM would need Wayne Simmonds and Pontus Holmberg in the AHL to have just over $3 million in cap space. To have some cap space available after a Dumba deal, Toronto would need to trade a player like Justin Holl ($2 million).
I mention Holl because adding Dumba plus having T.J. Brodie return from the injured reserve would make a very crowded blue line. Keeping all of the variables in mind, a deal for Matt Dumba could look like this.
To Toronto: Matt Dumba (50% retained).
To Minnesota: Justin Holl, Joey Anderson, Mikhail Abramov, 2023 1st Round Pick
Those might not be the exact players Toronto ends up trading away, but it gives an example of any potential deal. I don’t think the Maple Leafs will trade for Dumba, but I’ll leave those decisions to Kyle Dubas.