Dumba signs 1-year contract with Coyotes

Matt Dumba signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 29-year-old defenseman had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 79 regular-season games for the Minnesota Wild last season. He was also third on the Wild in average ice time per game (21:17), and along with defenseman Jake Middleton, he was one of two Minnesota players with at least 100 blocked shots (116) and 100 hits (104).

Dumba had two assists in six Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"Yeah, there's a lot that went into it, obviously a big decision," Dumba said. "Been here in [Minnesota] for a long time now, so the change and the move was kind of a big piece in that, where it's going to work best for me, and my family and having a place in Arizona already definitely helped out.

"It's a tough situation for a lot of teams this year with the cap, so I was just letting things unfold. Teams kind of played out their hands, and Arizona was around from Day One. They definitely had a big piece in this, and the discussions I had with my girlfriend, with my family about what was right for us. We were weighing the pros and cons, and there weren't too many cons in coming to the desert. We just needed to take the time to look at everything, be calculated and make sure this is the right fit. We know it is, and I'm so happy to be here."

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Selected by Minnesota in the first round (No. 7) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Dumba has 236 points (79 goals, 157 assists) in 598 regular-season games, and 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 49 playoff games.

"[Jonas Brodin] called me this morning and he was putting it in perspective," Dumba said about his time in Minnesota. "It's just like, from 17, 18 years old, you do everything together. You spend more times with your teammates and your best friends that you created on the team more than you do your best friends from home or buddies you grew up with, because it's an everyday grind. You battle, you grow together. We grew up as men together, you know? Started out just as little boys. That's what I'll remember, just all the friendships and memories made. It's been one [heck] of a ride here in 'Minny,' and I'm so thankful for it. It's an exciting new chapter, but I'll always think back to these times. Going through the phone, looking at the photos and seeing where the boys are at, I made a lot of good friends, friends that won't just be hockey friends, they'll be lifelong friends, which are probably my best memories."

The Coyotes previously signed forwards Jason Zucker (one year), Nick Bjugstad (two years) and Alexander Kerfoot (two years), and defenseman Troy Stecher (one year) on July 1. They also acquired defenseman Sean Durzi in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings on June 24.

"[Bjugstad] was texting me every other day. He caught me and put the clamps on me at one of the weddings we were at a couple of weeks ago, too. Just always dropping into my ear," Dumba said. "It was awesome to see guys really enjoy Arizona, the coaching staff, the style of play that they're growing into, and I felt that last year playing against that team. I thought they worked tremendously hard, they played free, and I saw a lot of good things. So, I'm very excited to join this squad. I am fortunate that over the past three years I've gotten to know a lot of guys on the team already, just skating with them in the summer or working out and training with them. I'm pretty good friends with [Clayton Keller] as well. We golf a lot together, so it's going to be a good fit."

Arizona (28-40-14) finished seventh in the Central Division last season.

"We are very pleased to have Matt join our organization," Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said. "He is a talented, reliable, physical defenseman who competes hard every night and will contribute offensively. He is also a great leader who will add a veteran presence to our blue line. We are very excited to have him on our team this season."