The Arizona Coyotes and free agent defenseman Matt Dumba have come to terms on a 1 year / $3.9M contract according to reports.
One of the few remaining impact free agents is signing a 1 year deal in the desert, hoping that next offseason’s cap increase will result in a more favourable market for his services. Coming off the worst offensive season of his 10 year NHL career, Dumba had many suitors, but not at the term or length he was hoping for this summer.
The 29 year old only managed 14 points (4G, 10A) across 79 games with Minnesota last season. Dumba was rumoured to be on the trade block for the majority of the 2022-23 campaign as the Wild hoped to move on from the former 7th overall pick from 2012.
Despite his down year, the right shot blue liner can still play a variety of roles including the penalty kill, and fill in on the 2nd power play unit as required. Dumba will look to put together a strong 2023-24 campaign, before cashing in on what will likely be the final long term deal of his career next offseason.
On the Coyotes front, their hope is that Dumba shakes off his down year and once again produces at something closer to his 2017-18 form where he registered 50 points (14G, 36A). Should he have a strong first half, he’ll present an attractive trade deadline target for contenders before becoming a UFA in the summer once more.
The 6’, 183 lbs defender can still play top line minutes and offers a physical element which few available defensemen will present come deadline day 2024, making him an early favourite to be atop the trade bait board for next year.
With Arizona currently in limbo both in terms of on ice product and future in the desert, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that the Regina native will be dealt for assets this upcoming season. Until then however, Dumba will be donning a Coyotes uniform and hoping to hit the reset button on his career down south.
Photo: The AHL. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.