5 NHL Stars Who May Get Traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
By Jeff Borsuk
Matt Dumba
Matt Dumba went into free agency this past summer having only experienced one team in his 10-year NHL career.
At age 29, he is away from the Minnesota Wild for the first time. In August, Bill Armstrong signed Dumba to the Phoenix Coyotes on a one-year $3.9M contract.
He would have been a significant upgrade to the Toronto Maple Leafs defensive core.
When he signed a deal worth less than Klingberg’s, Leafs fans began to scratch their heads.
He is a far more physical and defensively aware player who would help make the team better. Granted, Dumba’s offensive upside isn’t as high as Klingberg’s. Dumba’s 2022-23 campaign saw him collect four goals and 10 assists in 79 games.
At his current cap hit, Dumba is a steal. His previous contract was worth $30M over six years, with a value of $6M per season.
Most likely, the reason he’s signed for just one season is to prove his worth and earn a greater salary on a longer term next offseason.
We will see what that looks like then, but for now, the Leafs should keep Dumba on their radar. If the Coyotes appear to be a team outside of the playoff picture, they will surely be looking to trade Dumba.
Toronto would be an ideal destination for the right defenseman from Regina, Saskatchewan.