Two teams reportedly showing interest in Wild defenseman Matt Dumba

It seems as though Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba has been on the trade block for years on end. Now, rumors are once again starting to build up regarding the 2012 seventh overall pick. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on "Insider Trading" that both the Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers have shown interest in Dumba, who is a pending unrestricted free agent.

Both teams still have playoff aspirations and are desperately trying to add defensive depth. Dumba’s offensive production has taken a step back this season, as he’s recorded just 11 points in 39 games. It’s a far cry from his 50-point campaign in 2017-18, as injuries have mounted up.

The Senators seem to have a larger hole of the two teams mentioned on the right side, but they do sit further out of playoff positioning than the Oilers do. With the Wild solidly in playoff positioning, they would undoubtedly be looking for roster players in return for the 28-year-old Dumba.

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• San Jose Sharks 2020 first-round pick Ozzy Wiesblatt has spent the entirety of 2022-23 in the professional ranks but is still technically eligible for another year of junior hockey. In anticipation of a potential return to juniors, the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks traded for Wiesblatt’s rights on Tuesday. In 17 games with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, Wiesblatt has managed five points in a limited role. A return to junior hockey for the latter half of the season would likely make some sense, especially on an already-strong Winterhawks squad.
• Even more injury troubles struck the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, as forward Carson Meyer left their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning with an upper-body injury, per a team announcement, and did not return. The Ohio-born forward had yet to record a point in 12 NHL games this year, but mustered more than a point per game in the minors. A sixth-round pick in 2017, Meyer is continually challenging his way up the organizational ranks.