The Toronto Maple Leafs have been looking for defensive upgrades and it was just a matter of time before they were linked directly to Mathew Dumba of the Minnesota Wild. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports today in his latest 31 Thoughts column that the Maple Leafs have looked into Dumba, who has been involved in trade rumors since a report emerged that the Wild were “open for business.”
Dumba checks all the speculative boxes for the Maple Leafs; he’s right-handed, has term on his deal, plays a physical game and can contribute offensively. While it is not clear if a deal for Dumba or anyone else will actually happen, another executive told Friedman that Toronto is “investigating every good defenseman on the market.” That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise after allowing 167 goals through their first 50 games.
- Friedman also notes that there has been interest in former NHL defenseman Nikita Nesterov, but that the 26-year old is expected to sign a long-term deal in the KHL. Nesterov has been excellent for CSKA Moscow over the last three seasons, after suiting up 132 times in the NHL.
- The St. Louis Blues have some interest in a top-six forward, as GM Doug Armstrong revealed on a recent podcast for The Athletic. Today, Jeremy Rutherford examined a list of potential targets (subscription required) for the Blues to add to their group at the deadline. Any move that St. Louis makes will be determined by the health of Vladimir Tarasenko, but he’s not the only forward on the sideline right now. Oskar Sundqvist was placed on injured reserve today after missing last night’s game.