10 Massive Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Targets for the NHL Trade Deadline

Matt Dumba (RD)

In 2012, the Minnesota Wild drafted  a player they anticipated would be the face of the franchise. They picked Matt Dumba seventh-overall thanks to his puck presence, smooth skating, offense, and heavy shot.

In 2018, Wild GM Paul Fenton signed Dumba to a 5-year, $30 million contract extension. It appeared to be an excellent team-friendly deal as the big defenseman had just come off a 48 point campaign. His offense had shone through, just like it had when he was playing Major Junior in the WHL.

Since then, Dumba’s stick has significantly cooled. In fact, his best point production total while playing on his current deal topped out at 27. Dumba’s defense has also been heavily criticized. He seems to find himself making errors on the ice that frustrate Wild fans. On the Maple Leafs, Dumba is the sort of player who would likely invite the same vitriol as Jake Gardiner (though the hate shown for Gardiner was undeserved).

With that in mind, the question needs to be asked; why would the Leafs be interested in adding Dumba? Even though he isn’t going to play on the top pairing, Dumba can make a real impact in Toronto. He is a player who lays his body on the line in different ways. Dumba isn’t shy to block shots and gladly uses all of his 6 foot, 182 lbs frame to flatter opponents on the glass. Last season, he threw 114 hits.

With the right partner, Dumba could give the Leafs exactly what they need. The 28-year-old Regina, Saskatchewan native can eat minutes, be physical, and help control the play from the back end. Best yet, the asking price that Minnesota could now demanded is nowhere near where it once was. Toronto could get Dumba without having to mortgage their future.