LA Kings: Three way-too-early defensemen to target in 2021 offseason
By Ryan Sikes
2. Matt Dumba, RD (Ryan)
It appears to be a matter of time before the Minnesota Wild trade Matt Dumba. He was rumored to be on the trade block earlier in the offseason, and that was before the organization re-signed Jonas Brodin to a seven-year contract extension. The former seventh overall pick in 2012 tallied a career-high 50 points (14 goals, 36 assists) during the 2017-2018 campaign. The following year, he suffered a pectoral injury, only playing in 32 games.
He returned in the COVID-shortened season, scoring six goals with 18 assists with a 47.9 expected-goals-for percentage. Still 26 years of age, there’s reason to believe Dumba can return to a 50-point producer. The Wild have $2.7M in cap space entering this year. Once the 2021 offseason hits, they have a number of free agents to address. Matt Dumba and his $6M AAV could be moved to clear up space.
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2. Ryan Graves, LD (Russell)
Ryan Graves had an impressive sophomore season for the Avalanche. It could be asking a lot from the Avs to pry away the NHL leader in plus-minus for last year. But with the recent addition and signing of Devon Toews from the New York Islanders and highly touted prospect Bowen Byram waiting in the wings, there could be a logjam on the left side on defense for Colorado in the near future. Graves just signed a relatively team-friendly contract with an AAV of only $3.1M over the next three years, so the price to acquire the 24-year-old could be high.