After making the playoffs for the first time in right years, the Ottawa Senators will need to be busy this Summer to build a stronger team for 2025-26. The Senators got a head start by extending defenseen Nikolas Matinpalo and Tyler Kleven each to a two-year extension.
Even with doing two extensions with defensemen, the defense can still be a concern. A major reason is Nick Jensen having off-season surgery in May. Jensen having surgery puts concern to make sure the Senators have a strong right-handed defenseman in case Jensen is still having concerns.
The Senators have been in rumors to be linked to signing Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers and trading for Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers. Both Ekblad and Ristolainen are right-handed defensemen just like Jensen. However, there's one right-handed defenseman the Senators shouldn't pursue at all.
Sens must avoid trading for Stars' Dumba at all costs
In July 2024, Matt Dumba signed a two-year contract with the Dallas Stars. After one year, Dumba's time in Dallas could be up due to the Stars' cap situation with having under $5 million in cap space.
Rumors of the Stars trading Jason Robertson began earlier this month with the Senators being a potential team. Recently, rumors that the Stars want to trade away Dumba, Mason Marchment or Ilya Lyubushkin began with David Pagnotta talking about it.
David Pagnotta: Dallas' preference is to try to move Mason Marchment, Ilya Lyubushkin or Matt Dumba, not Jason Robertson - NHL Network
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 13, 2025
Ottawa trading for Dallas' Marchment would be a rough trade with Marchment having a $4.5 million cap hit and playoff woes. Now, another Star the Senators must avoid is by not trading for Dumba.
At 30 years old in the 2024-25 season, Dumba had one of his worst seasons in his 12-year NHL career. Dumba recorded 10 points with a -5 rating in 63 games for the Stars. Dumba didn't play in any of the Stars' 18 games in the 2025 playoffs. Dumba's offensive production has dropped big since the 2022-23 season.
While Dumba was signed by the Stars to be more of a strong defensive presence, he became a liability during the season. Dumba's hits and blocked shots from 2024-25 were down from the 2023-24 season. Dumba also had more giveaways in 2024-25 than he did in 2023-24.
Dumba at times became unplayable and ice time wasn't high for him. The Stars trading Dumba might need to happen big to create cap space, but his contract would be an awful risk to take for the Senators.
Dumba has one year remaining on his contract at $3.75 million and will be an unrestricted free agent. Even if the Senators could get Dumba for a late round draft pick, his salary is too high to take on and the risk of being a one-year rental could be high.
While the Senators still might be looking for a right-handed defenseman this Summer, Dumba is one to not give consideration with his contract and becoming a liability in Dallas.