NHL trade rumors were going around at the start of the 2021 NHL season that the Minnesota Wild would entertain offers for defenceman Matt Dumba.
With the Seattle Kraken expansion draft coming up, the Wild have some decisions to make on their defensive corps. Most teams are protecting three defenceman in the Kraken expansion draft. The issue the Wild have is they already have three defensemen who must be protected, so they’ll have to maneuver to keep Dumba, trade Dumba or lose him for nothing in the expansion draft.
NHL Rumors earlier this season had the Wild wanting a #1 center in return for Dumba. Dumba recently stated, “They always made a way to make it work in the past,” Dumba said. “My name’s in trade speculation every year, at the deadline, throughout the year. I’ve become accustomed to it. It is what it is. I’ve expressed my feelings and where I want to be, where my heart is. At the end of the day, that’s all I can do.”
Sarah McLellan of The Star Tribune stated, “The Wild can choose to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, or eight skaters and one goalie. If the Wild goes the first route, the three spots on defense would be taken by captain Jared Spurgeon, Ryan Suter and Jonas Brodin since they have no-movement clauses; players with such clauses have to be protected unless they waive them.”
The Wild have some interesting decisions to make this off-season. Do they swing a deal with the Seattle Kraken so Dumba is not selected in the expansion draft, or do they move him for a top-end forward?
