NHL trade rumors: Top 3 players teams should avoid

Matt Dumba

The Minnesota Wild are open for business. It shouldn’t be surprising that they’re willing to trade just about anyone. This includes defenseman Matt Dumba. Dumba is an offensive defenseman who can do a lot of special things with the puck, so it’s not surprising teams have expressed interest in him.

However, the prices mentioned for him are outrageous. Dumba’s offense has dried up this season. Both his boxcar stats and his underlying numbers support this theory. In the past, Dumba has been a valuable defenseman in transition, but this year, he’s taken a significant step backward. It’s worth noting he’s barely 12 months removed from a significant injury, so maybe it’s still bothering him.

Another issue is Dumba has never been too good defensively. Usually, he does enough good things with the puck to help people overlook that. This year, it’s not happening.

If I had to trade for a Wild defenseman, I’d look at Jonas Brodin, who is quite underrated. His offense is nothing to write home about, but defensively, he’s outstanding. Dumba’s rough year is alarming and teams should be concerned if his days as a very good offensive defenseman are over. I could see him as a buy-low candidate, but the Wild probably aren’t setting a low price for him.