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Are the Wild Asking Too Much for Matt Dumba?

The belief is that Minnesota might be asking for a No. 1 center, or at worst a No. 2 in exchange for Matt Dumba.. Is that too much?

When asked what the Minnesota Wild might be looking for in a deal that would see right-handed defenseman Matt Dumba find a new home before next season, TSN’s Darren Dreger was asked if the Wild might be seeking too large a return? The belief is that Minnesota might be asking for a No. 1 center, or at worst a No. 2.

Related: NHL Free Agent Review: Lehner, Pietrangelo, Krug, and Hall

Dreger notes that if the Wild are looking at those returns, it isn’t likely to happen. “That doesn’t appear to be a reality,” he said. Dreger does believe that Wild GM Bill Guerin is willing to listen to something less and that’s good news if the team is serious about trading him. In that case, the ask could be future considerations in the form of a higher first-round draft pick and a good young NHL roster player.

There will certainly be interest in Dumba’s services, the question will be whether or not teams are willing to move the pieces required.

The Wild Could Hang Onto Dumba

Dreger said the flip side of all this is that the Wild might elect to hold onto Dumba since they aren’t willing to give him away unless their asking price is met.

Matt Dumba Minnesota Wild
Matt Dumba Minnesota Wild

The reason the Wild are considering moving Dumba has little to do with Dumba. It’s that the organization has a need to get better at the center position, but also that if they hang onto Dumba, he could potentially be exposed in the NHL expansion draft and the franchise doesn’t want to lose him for nothing or be forced to protect players in a scenario someone else important is exposed.

The Wild have already made a number of moves and it doesn’t feel like Guerin is done. But, will Dumba move before some of the really big names do? With talk that Alex Pietrangelo’s rights could get dealt and there still being talk that Oliver Ekman-Larsson is a potential trade candidate, the Wild may have to wait to see what the market looks like in a week or two.

Next: Blues Working on Sign-and-Trade for Pietrangelo?

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