Minnesota Wild Rookie Mathew Dumba Questionable for Tomorrow Night
By Dakota Case
Sep 17, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (55) looks on during the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
It was said earlier in the week that forward Justin Fontaine and defenseman Mathew Dumba were very likely to make their Wild and NHL debuts in tomorrow night’s opening night matchup with the Los Angeles Kings. That may not be the case for Dumba now.
No guarantee Matt Dumba makes NHL debut. #mnwild coaches still discussing. May want to play big body Clayton Stoner vs #lakings
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) October 2, 2013
Facing a big, gritty squad like the Kings, head coach Mike Yeo may decide to go with a rugged, physical presence in Clayton Stoner. It makes sense, but perhaps Dumba, like Brodin last season, would thrive while receiving non-sheltering minutes. It’s not like the 2012 7th overall pick is a pushover. Dumba’s dynamic explosiveness, both offensively and physically, is largely responsible for his selection as one of the top draft eligible defensemen in his year.
That said, Wild fans needn’t worry about whether or not he’ll make his NHL debut this season. It’s going to happen–it just may not happen tomorrow night. We’ll have more for you as the situation develops. In the meantime, enjoy the video below, and imagine it happening to Dustin Brown.
A smile is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?
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