Dumba Fits Devils’ Defensive Needs

Upgrading the New Jersey Devils’ defense is a must for general manager Tom Fitzgerald this offseason. They’ve had their name connected to a few blueliners already, including prized free agent Dougie Hamilton (From ‘SNAPSHOTS: Rod Brind’Amour opts to stay behind the Carolina Hurricanes bench … GM Don Waddell listening on Dougie Hamilton’, The Ottawa Sun – 6/17/21). And they’re sure to be connected to more as the offseason continues to ramp up. 

One reason for that is because the Seattle Expansion Draft is a little less than a month away. Teams will have to trade players they can’t protect or risk losing them for nothing to the Kraken. A club in a precarious situation on their blue line is the Minnesota Wild. They have three defensemen — Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin — who have no-movement clauses and must be protected from Seattle unless they waive their NMCs. 

That could mean Matt Dumba, who only has a modified no-trade clause, is the odd man out. The Wild likely don’t want to lose him to Seattle for nothing, so they could look to deal him before the expansion draft on July 21. If so, the Devils should be one of the teams who pursue a Dumba trade. Let’s take a look at why that’s the case.

Where Dumba Excels

Dumba has been one of the Wild’s top defenders for quite some time. He’s more of an offensive defenseman than an elite shutdown blueliner, and the numbers seem to bear that true. He’s averaged 36 points per 82 games over the last three seasons and has reached double-digit goals four times in his career, though not since the 2018-19 season.

Dumba may not be elite in transition, but he’s certainly above average. He has offensive upside and should help a Devils power play that struggled mightily this season. He wouldn’t be the missing piece that ascends the team into an NHL powerhouse. But he’d be a noteworthy upgrade compared to what they iced this past season. 

What Devils Would Have to Give Up

The Wild are in a tough position when it comes to a potential Dumba trade. One plus is that his modified NTC doesn’t kick in until July 28, so they’re free to trade him anywhere before free agency begins. But teams will know they have to move him because it’ll be almost impossible to protect him at the expansion draft. I don’t think most GMs will be willing to give up their best assets for him because of that, so his price tag shouldn’t be outrageous. 

The Devils acquired the New York Islanders 1st-round pick, which they obtained when they traded Kyle Palmieri to them at the trade deadline. That pick will end up somewhere from 29th to 32nd overall since the Islanders are in the semifinals. But my guess is the Wild would be satisfied with picking up a third first-round selection. 

There’d also have to be a prospect going to Minnesota in return. But it’ll be hard for the Wild to get a blue-chip talent, given the position they’re in with the expansion draft. The Devils have plenty of depth in their farm system, so giving up a B-level prospect shouldn’t be an issue for them. That should cover the cost, however. 

If there’s one catch to the Devils acquiring Dumba before the expansion draft, it’s that they’d have to protect him. But if anything, the Devils need defensemen to protect from Seattle. Severson is a lock to be protected, and perhaps Jonas Siegenthaler since the Devils used a 3rd-round pick to acquire him. With the current roster, Subban would likely fill the team’s third protection slot on defense. Acquiring Dumba would change that, though, and he’d earn that slot after Severson and Siegenthaler (or even Will Butcher). So there shouldn’t be an issue adding Dumba before July 21. 

All in all, Dumba is a solid offensive defenseman who’d likely fit in well with how the Devils are trying to play. Hamilton will be their no. 1 target, but Dumba is a good fallback option if things don’t work out with Hamilton. He shouldn’t cost too much to acquire and fills their need for a top-four, right-handed defender. And if he ends up being the Devils’ marquee defensive addition this offseason, you could end up doing much, much worse. 

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Advanced stats from Evolving-Hockey