The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly on the hunt for another right-handed defenseman ahead of the March 8 trade deadline and Arizona Coyotes defenseman Matt Dumba certainly could help the club.
It was reported earlier in the summer that the 29-year-old was being pursued by the Maple Leafs in the summer and the player confirmed that Thursday after his team's morning skate at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
"I talked to a lot of teams, Toronto wasn’t the only one," Dumba said. "That’s all part of the process, just trying to figure out what works best for you and that team.
"I’m sure I’ll be going through that again this summer."
Dumba says this because, after much deliberation and interest from other clubs, he ended up signing a one-year deal worth $3.9 million with the Coyotes on August 6, more than a month after the free agency period opened up.
"When the floodgates opened, there was a lot going on I just wanted to be patient," Dumba said. "I knew I had a house in Arizona so I was waiting on that," Dumba said
The player bought an investment property in the area after spending the lockout portion of the 2012 NHL lockout in the desert town.
"I fell in love with it," Dumba said. "I wouldn't spend my summers there, though. It's too hot."
Instead, Dumba spends his summers in Minnesota, where he spent the first 10 seasons of his NHL career.
The Maple Leafs need a right-handed defenseman and were forced to dress six lefties against Arizona as Timothy Liljegren (undisclosed) and Conor Timmins (mononucleosis) remain unavailable to the club. When asked if that was a strength when negotiating with Arizona, he joked about the suggestion.
"I thought it would be, but then I joined a team with six righties," Dumba said.
The Regina, Saskatchewan native has never changed teams midseason, but the Leafs definitely need some help on the right side defence.
"We're all jammed up," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of his all-lefty back end.
Dumba has four goals and five assists in 54 games this season with the Coyotes.
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