The Penguins have acquired veteran defenseman Mathew Dumba from Dallas. Also coming the Pens’ way, the Stars’ second-round pick in the 2028 Entry Draft.
Heading to the Lone Star state to complete the deal, erstwhile black-and-gold defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok.
Once-upon-a-time a prodigy whose boxcars in junior were eerily reminiscent of recent high-profile draftee Kashawn Aitcheson, Dumba, soon to be 31, was a seventh overall pick of the Wild in 2012. A fairly accomplished offensive defenseman, to boot. Over a four-season stretch at the outset of his career, the Regina, Saskatchewan, native pounded home 47 goals, including a 14-goal, 50-point campaign for the Wild in 2017-18.
Then the offensive side of Matt’s game gradually and mysteriously dried up, culminating in a feeble one-goal, 10-point season for the Stars in ’24-25. Perhaps due in part to the wear-and-tear of playing a physical brand of defense in a modest 6’1” 185-pound frame.
Indeed, Dumba’s been known to rock foes with some truly seismic, open-ice body checks. He also possesses a combative streak, as witnessed by this spirited go with the much larger Zach Bogosian.
That makes two recent right-side additions, Connor Clifton being the other, who’ll hit you.
I like it.
As for Kolyachonok, wow, it didn’t take long for the Pens to say, “no more for me, thanks.” Claimed on waivers from Utah on February 10, the 24-year-old quickly seemed to fall out of favor with former coach Mike Sullivan. The Belarus blueliner registered a pair of assists and a minus-5 in a dozen nondescript games in the ‘Burgh.
His metrics, rather good for Utah, were poor here.
Personally, I liked the kid’s mobility and thought he made a nice first pass. However, with a trio of free agents, Alexander Alexeyev, Caleb Jones and Parker Wotherspoon vying for port side slots, Kolyachonok was deemed expendable.
To wrap up, the trade continues a Kyle Dubas trend of taking on salary from teams in a cap crunch (Dumba makes $3.75 million per) in exchange for draft capital. One that started last season with the Kevin Hayes and Cody Glass acquisitions.
With four established right-side defensemen now in tow, Dubas has a surplus. It certainly seems to presage further trade activity.
Perhaps soon.
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Quick Update:
Pens traded Chase Stillman and a 4th Round Pick to Vancouver for Arturs Silvos a 24yr old Goalie who helped the Canucks AHL affiliate win its first Calder Cup, earning MVP honors en route. However, before assuming he will knock either Blomqvist or Murashov down the depth chart, Silvos has played 19 NHL games and has been far less impressive in those games, his record is 8-8-0 with a Sv% or 0.880.
In Stillman, I don't think the team gave up anything, the 4th round pick may be the asset Silvos needs to be rated against.