One of the NHL’s few remaining impact free agents is off the market, as defenseman Matt Dumba agreed to a one-year, $3.9-million deal with the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday, per Coyotes insider Craig Morgan.
Dumba is coming off the worst offensive season of his career, scoring just four goals and 14 points in 79 games for the Minnesota Wild while skating 21:17 per night.
The 29-year-old’s stock isn’t as high as it was when his offensive production was more consistent, but he still checks plenty of boxes. He’s a right-shot defenseman under the age of 30 who can skate top-pair minutes, kill penalties and even fill in on the power play as needed.
The Wild used him in more of a shutdown role in recent years, but Arizona may see a little more offensive upside in Dumba. While his goal totals have been in decline lately, he still flashes intriguing skill at times and a change of scenery might help him after spending years at the forefront of trade rumors.
Dumba had spent his entire 10-year career with Minnesota after being drafted seventh overall in 2012. The Saskatchewan native is coming off a five-year, $30-million contract he signed with the Wild in 2018.
It’s been an eventful offseason for the Coyotes, who saw their arena deal in Tempe voted down by residents in May, raising questions about the club’s long-term future.
On the ice, Arizona has made a number of notable moves, including signing forwards Alex Kerfoot and Jason Zucker on short-term deals. The club also signed and then released Alex Galchenyuk following an off-ice incident in which he was arrested for private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest, and threatening or Intimidating.
The Coyotes finished seventh in the Central Division in 2022-23 with 70 points.
–With files from Yahoo Sports Canada’s Nick Ashbourne
