Speaking to the press Monday at his end of season press conference, Matt Dumba got emotional when talking about his future and what Minnesota means to him as he prepares to hit unrestricted free agency.
“My heart is definitely here in Minny,” Dumba said. “I want to win. I want to win here. But I don’t really know what lies ahead. I hadn’t even given it much thought. So we’ll just see how the chips fall and we just got to, kind of, play it by ear.”
Dumba has been with the Wild organization since he was drafted taken seventh overall in the 2012 draft. This past season marked the final year of a $30 million five-year deal that was signed in 2018.
According to CapFriendly, the Wild currently are projected to have just $3.4m in cap space. With so little to play with, the Wild are unlikely to be able to retain an experienced defensemen in his prime.
“Pretty crazy to look back at it and see 10, 11 years go by in the blink of an eye. I love Minny,” the 28-year-old said when asked about what Minnesota means to him.
“So many friends here. Put down some roots. House here. Means a lot to me. How I’ve been able to be in the community, try to use my platform for good, make a difference. It’s been just as fulfilling, if not more for me. Going through all this and the connections I’ve made. Love Minny.”
Related: Gallery: Wild player Matt Dumba lists his $1.2M condo at Hotel Ivy
Related: Wild’s Marc-Andre Fluery: ‘I’m not going anywhere’
