Salary Cap Projections Update For Next Season Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk1MTEyNjg0MzE4ODkzNzk0/usatsi_19453536.jpg] Locked in a tight Western Conference playoff race, the Minnesota Wild need all hands if they're to clinch a berth. However, they must decide whether to trade Matt Dumba or risk losing the 28-year-old defenseman to free agency in July. Cap Friendly [https://www.capfriendly.com/players/matt-dumba] indicates Dumba is in the final season of a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $6 million. He also carries a 10-team no-trade list. The Wild have over $67.1 million [https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/wild] invested in 13 players, with $12.7 million tied up in buyouts to Zach Parise and Ryan Suter this season and $14.7 million the next. With Matthew Boldy, Calen Addison and Sam Steel due for raises as restricted free agents this summer, they can't afford to retain Dumba, who'll likely seek a lucrative long-term deal. Clubs seeking blueline depth before the March 3 trade deadline apparently have Dumba in their sights. On Tuesday, TSN's Darren Dreger [https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/edmonton-oilers-ottawa-senators-interested-in-minnesota-wild-d-matt-dumba-1.1904551] reported the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators have reached out to the Wild about the veteran defenseman. Dreger noted the Wild aren't certain if they're ready to part with Dumba. He believes their asking price would be high, and then they'd have to shop around for a potential replacement. That could change if the Wild drop out of post-season contention before deadline day. Otherwise, they'll likely retain him as their “own rental” for the season and watch him depart as an unrestricted free agent in July. Dreger's colleague Pierre LeBrun also noted the Wild had inquired about Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser. A case could be made to swap Dumba for Boeser, assuming the former would sign with the Canucks. Boeser carries a $6.65-million cap hit through 2024-25. Unless they shed salary, the Wild can't afford to carry his contract beyond this season, either.
