Dumba not worried about trade, extension entering contract year

Minnesota Wild defenseman Mathew Dumba isn't dwelling on an uncertain future as he enters the final season of his current contract.

Due to salary cap restraints, the 28-year-old hasn't engaged in serious extension talks with the club. Dumba said he knows he could be a valuable trade chip before the deadline if the Wild aren't among the contenders in the Western Conference.

"If I worried about that, I'd probably be in a shell hiding somewhere," Dumba told The Athletic's Michael Russo. "I've heard about the numbers. I've heard about the cap space. Every year of my career, I've been on the (trading) block."

As a mobile right-side blue-liner with offensive upside, Dumba has been considered a hot commodity in the trade market for years. Minnesota reportedly actively shopped him during the 2020 offseason.

Wild general manager Bill Guerin said his hands are tied when it comes to negotiating a new deal with Dumba. Minnesota has over $14 million in dead money on its books in 2023-24 and 2024-25 due to Ryan Suter's and Zach Parise's buyouts.

"We haven't really talked," Guerin said. "It's not something I think we really need to be distracted with right now. Matt's a big boy. I am, too. We both know our situation, but I think the most important thing is Matt has a clear head going into this year and just plays with no stress. I can't say that we're going to start talking or get a deal done.

"We, as an organization, are in a unique spot with our cap space situation, so it's hard to do certain things. But you never know."

The Wild drafted Dumba seventh overall in 2012. He's racked up 222 points in 519 games with the franchise.

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