REPORT: Minnesota Wild expected to trade former top-10 pick before trade deadline

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Ryan
December 6, 2022 (9:29 PM)

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The Minnesota Wild are currently sitting third place in the Central Division after steeping their game up these last few weeks. After a slow start, they've rebounded lately and have a record of 6-3-1 in their last 10.

The Wild are an interesting team as they have loads of talent, both veteran and young, but are a little bit restricted with moves they can make due to their salary cap situation. After buying out the contracts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, it has drastically hurt them cap wise. Over the next three years they have between $12,743,588 and $14,743,588 against their cap. To put into perspective, thats the same amount as Crosby and Malkin are against the Penguins cap.

So due to this, they are going to need to make some moves this season before they lose some players for nothing in the offseason. One of those names that keep coming up is Matt Dumba.

Dumba emerged as an elite defenceman in the 2017-18 season where he scored 14 goals and 50 points in 82 games. He then started the next season off hot, scoring 12 goals and 22 points in 32 games, but injuries kept him from playing the full season and honestly he hasn't been the same defenceman since.

Drafted 7th overall back in 2012, Dumba still has a lot left in the tank, and being a UFA at the end of this season he will probably be looking for a slight raise on his current $6,000,000, something which the Wild cannot afford.

According to Pierre LeBrun, he believes the Wild will trade Dumba by the trade deadline even if they are in a playoff position:

And finally, if the Wild fall out of contention this season, pending UFA blueliner Matt Dumba most likely will be trade bait. He has a 10-team no-trade list. He might be part of trade discussions even if the Wild stay in the playoff race, as part of a hockey trade to augment the Minnesota roster.

It's been said that the Wild are looking for a top 6 winger, could we see a Dumba for Brock Boeser trade coming?