cmaleski2
Well-known member
If one of our first-rounders is in play for a defenseman, then my guess would be it is Matt Dumba that is the target.
Wild seem to be coming to terms with the pending rebuild and their top-4 is crowded. He's available for the right price and we do have the assets to win out over any competition that doesn't get too crazy.
Dumba is under contract for three more seasons after this one at $6M/season, so definitely not a rental. NTC (10-team no-trade) doesn't kick in until season after next.
24 years old. Right-shot. Has the skill package for not only 5-on-5 but also power play unit duty although can't get past Suter and Spurgeon at the moment.
Good Dougie insurance for not only this season but in case contract extension talks do not go well.
So adding Dumba via a trade would require a few things to happen:
1) We would have to trade out around $1.9 million in NHL cap hit (aka TVR would have to go out to keep the Canes under the cap)
2) Good bye Joel Edmundson via UFA. There would be zero effort made to retain him. Dougie, Slavin, Pesce, Dumba, Gardiner would be your top 5 next season. Not sure who the other D man would be but they would be cheaper DMen (Bean? Fleury)?
3) Expansion draft? If we somehow re-signed Dougie (would seem less likely with Dumba in the fold) we would have 4 Dmen we would want to protect in the 2021 expansion draft (Dougie, Slavin, Pesce, Dumba). You can do that of course, but then you can only protect 4 forwards. Jordan Staal takes up one of those spots....then Aho, and Svech….and then? Turbo or Necas?
Something else eventually would have to give. Sure we could trade away one of those 4 Dmen (again assuming we retain Dougie), but you almost have to think ahead to the implications of your projected roster at the end of next season.
Dumba would require a pretty sweet package to shake loose. Definitely one of our 1st round picks + Jake Bean + TVR+ ??? Is he really worth that? We didn't think Faulk was worth paying the money Dumba makes. WHy would we think Dumba is worth that money?
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