Edited Sep. 24, 2022 at 10:52 p.m.
Quoting: Tjm220
Dumba is damaged good after his injuries. Buffalo should not want him, especially at that price.
From a offensive defenseman perspective.
Yes, he is damaged goods. He'll never be the potential Norris caliber type offensive defenseman he could of been pre-pectoral injury. That's true.
But he isn't an offensive defenseman type of defenseman anymore. He's changed his game to adapt and stay in the NHL post injury. His defensive skills have improved quite a bit since then to the point where he's legitimately a TWD now.
He plays the heavy, physical, gritty style of game while still capable of moving the puck and capability to carry it into the offensive zone, all in a veteran defenseman package with leadership qualities, that the Sabers specifically have been craving for their blue line for quite some time.
That *damaged goods* is tough enough to play out the last 5 games of the regular season and through a 6 game series against the Blues with 3 broken ribs and a punctured lung on top of it last season.
He isn't the liability you think or claim him to be.
The only knocks on his level of play since his pectoral injury is his occasional penchant for making a bone headed play, a trait all offensive defenseman... former or otherwise... all have. And he isn't the offensive weapon he once was. But again, his defensive improvement has largely offset that reduction.