Minnesota Wild Re-Sign Mathew Dumba to 2-Year Deal
By Ryan Ritchie
Minnesota Wild Re-Sign Defenseman Matt Dumba to a 2-Year $5.1 Million Dollar Contract
Announced Thursday, Minnesota Wild have re-signed restricted free agent Mathew Dumba to a two-year $5.1 million dollar contract worth $2.55 million/year.
Generalfanager tweeted that MIN has $2.17 million in cap space with all RFAs now signed.
Dumba, 22, was originally selected 7th overall back in 2012.
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He appeared in 13 games for the Wild at the beginning of 2013-14 before being sent back to WHL Portland in late November.
Matt split time between the AHL/NHL in 2014-15, posting 14 points in 20 games for Iowa and 16 points in 58 games for Minnesota.
Stepping into his first full NHL season in 2015-16, Dumba exceeded expectations with 26 points in 81 games. More importantly though, Mathew showed tremendous growth/development in his defensive game.
This should hopefully put to rest those nasty trade rumors – the ones involving Matt Dumba at least.
Sitting second on the depth chart for right-handed defenders behind Jared Spurgeon at an affordable $2.55 million dollar cap hit, it would make little sense to move a talented young defender with such a cap friendly contract.
As we’ve said before on a few occasions, the focus should be on Jonas Brodin or Marco Scandella.
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Minnesota Wild LH vs RH Depth Chart
LH
Ryan Suter
Marco Scandella
Jonas Brodin
Mike Reilly
Gustav Olofsson
Victor Bartley
RH
Jared Spurgeon
Matt Dumba
Christian Folin
Nate Prosser
Alex Gudbranson
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Scandella, 26, is coming off a 21-point season in which he logged 20:42 of ice-time/game. Brodin, 23, is coming off a seven point campaign logging 20:25 of ice-time/game.
Both of these guys are quality two-way defenders who similarly can fill a 3/4 defensive role. Why not move one, let Dumba step into a bigger role, while at the same opening a spot for one of Rielly, Olofsson, or Bartley?
One might wonder if today’s signing paves the way for that inevitable trade. There was never a rush to make a move, but there was always uncertainty towards different factors such as the cap or expansion.
Minnesota Wild Potential Targets
*Forget the Ryan Nugent-Hopkins rumor that continues to float around. It doesn’t make sense for either side. Why would Minnesota add another center of similar second line quality to the mix when its a proven unsuccessful recipe. The Wild need a 1A or indisputible top line center. For the Oilers, their only interest would be Jared Spurgeon or Matt Dumba. They don’t need another LHD with Andrej Sekera, Darnell Nurse, and Oscar Klefbom.
David Krejci, Boston Bruins
A no-movement clause is the only thing that could potentially complicate a trade for David Krejci. Given the addition of David Backes and emergence of Ryan Spooner, one of Krejci or Spooner suddenly becomes expendable.
Boston could use a LHD upgrade with Chara on the decline and all hope dwindling on prospects such as Jakub Zboril and Charlie McAvoy.
Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
Fans on both sides will tell you this makes little sense. After all, how often do we see inter-divisional rivals making a Dion Phaneuf to Ottawa type deal?
It’s not easy to make deals nowadays in the salary cap world, so if each side has something the other could desperately use, shouldn’t you at least consider it?
Minnesota would need to add a bit in this deal, but Colorado would get a big upgrade on FA departure Nick Holden, while the Wild get that missing top line center.
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Adam Henrique, New Jersey Devils
New Jersey is loaded up the middle. They have Travis Zajac, Adam Henrique, Pavel Zacha, John Quenneville, and newly drafted Michael McLeod. They’re also a bit thin on the blue line following the Adam Larsson deal. GM Ray Shero may not be ready to pull the trigger this early, but it doesn’t hurt to pick up the phone and at least plant the seed.