With the Arizona Coyotes fading away from the playoff picture, a Matt Dumba trade has occurred. The veteran defenceman was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Going to the Coyotes are later round draft picks. Much like Tarasenko, Dumba signed a one year contract during the summer, as he chose to bet on himself to cash in next time around. After enjoying life in the desert, Dumba moves on to a contender.
Arizona Coyotes trade Matt Dumba
The Arizona Coyotes were a good team to watch to begin the season. They were in the thick of things for the playoffs but have taken a back seat as of late. Arizona has key players to build around for the future but one of them will not be Dumba.
Dumba is a stable veteran presence who brought that presence to a young Coyotes team. With it being a one year pact, the writing was on the wall for him to move on. Dumba would have been a great presence if the team made the postseason but will take that presence to a team who is a contender.
What this Means
For the Coyotes
The Coyotes making this Dumba trade was smart. They essentially bought a return when they initially signed him and was smart asset management on their part. Getting a return is huge for a team that is still rebuilding its core group. The future of the team lies within its forward group, as it is led by Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley. It is unfortunate but the Coyotes are still a ways away from playing meaningful hockey in the postseason.
For the Lightning
Like depth scoring, having extra depth on defence will go a long ways in the playoffs. Dumba is not the strongest point producer but has been able to add offence to his game. He fills the void left behind from Sergachev. However, Dumba thrives more in a shutdown role and is not shy to playing physical. He is a big minutes eater, as he averages 20:03 of time on ice. He has nine points in 53 games, but provides other things on the ice to bring the team value.
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