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.