Report: Maple Leafs 'Wanted' Defenseman Matt Dumba During Free Agency This Summer
"I would be curious to see how it would look different at all if Dumba was here," Friedman added on Leafs Morning Take.
It appears as though Matt Dumba was the defenseman the Maple Leafs wanted during free agency this summer.
Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman joined Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Thursday for 'Leafs Morning Take'. During his segment, he was asked if there were any other options this summer for Toronto aside from signing John Klingberg.
Friedman revealed that the Maple Leafs were in on Dumba, but things didn't work out.
"I think the guy they really wanted on July 1st was Dumba," Friedman said. "I think they were in on him. Klingberg came in at $4.15 million, Dumba ended up in Arizona for $3.9 million, but I think at the time he was high in the fives (5 million range). I think Toronto really wanted him and they couldn't get the deal done because they couldn't fit Dumba where he wanted to be...
"He was the guy (Toronto) talked to. He was the guy they wanted. But they couldn't fit him in for what he was asking."
The 29-year-old signed a one-year, $3.9 million deal with Arizona in early August. It was the first time in Dumba's career that he got to free agency after 10 seasons with the Minnesota Wild, the team that drafted him.
Toronto instead signed Klingberg to a one-year deal worth $4.15 million. And to say his tenure with the Maple Leafs has been a rollercoaster would be an understatement.
The 31-year-old defenseman has had a difficult time fitting into Toronto's lineup. Klingberg has a 41.96 xGF% at five-on-five this season, the lowest among all Maple Leafs defensemen, per NaturalStatTrick.com.
Following Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said that there was concern given Klingberg was a minus-three on the night.
"We need to protect him better," Keefe said when asked what the 31-year-old needs to improve specifically.
It appears Toronto could ice 11 forwards and seven defensemen for Friday's game against the Calgary Flames, with Klingberg being the seventh defender. That would be another turn in what's been a tough start to the season for the 31-year-old defenseman.
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