As expected, Matt Dumba is set to hit the free agent market come July 1st, with the news that the Tampa Bay Lightning will not be re-signing him.
NHL insider David Pagnotta confirmed on Tuesday that the Lightning will not be re-signing Dumba. This makes sense considering the Lightning traded for defenseman Ryan McDonagh from the Nashville Predators not long ago.
McDonagh carries a $6.75 Million cap hit for the 2024-25 season and the 2025-26 season. They also have just a hair over five million in cap space left with their captain Steven Stamkos still unsigned.
After signing with the Arizona Coyotes last season, Dumba was traded to the Lightning at the trade deadline. He appeared in 18 regular-season games with the Lightning where he recorded two assists, 33 penalty minutes, 55 hits, and a minus-5 rating.
He also played in all five Lightning playoff games this year, posting zero points, 25 hits, and a minus-2 rating.
Dumba, 29, recorded 79 goals, 157 assists, 236 points, and 816 hits in 598 games across ten seasons in his Wild career. He was the Wild's seventh overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft and ranks fourth in Wild franchise history for most points among defensemen.
