Video: Undersized Matt Dumba Makes Impression with Fight
By Nick Fritz
Jan 17, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (55) takes a shot during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
It’s got to be disheartening for players to go back and forth between the AHL and NHL. Small doses of the glory are quickly nixed by the realization that your game just isn’t there yet.
It looks like it didn’t effect Matt Dumba.
He took his demotion for what it was: a chance to get better. In his first game back with the big club due to the suspension of Ryan Suter, Dumba wanted to make an impression on Mike Yeo and Chuck Fletcher. He finished with a two-shots, a goal and a fight. Here is the video of the fight:
Though the fight didn’t go his way, getting into the right mind of the head coach, did. On Sunday, the Wild kept Dumba up while sending Jonathon Blum and Jordan Schroeder back to Iowa.
“We want him be impactful in the areas where he can be.” said Yeo after the 7-0 victory over Buffalo. “Our focus right now has to be on defense first, and I thought he did a really good job of that tonight. I like the fact that he’s trying to make a statement every time he’s on the ice.”
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Dumba’s most recent stint in the AHL has been a great one. Through 17 games with the Iowa Wild, he’s compiled 4 goals, 8 assists and was recently chosen to represent the Western Conference in the 2015 AHL All-Star game. He seems to have the right attitude about the nature of call-ups and send-downs. After joking about feeling more mature already with a new ‘Mike Yeo-like’ goatee”, Dumba said, “It’s been a good experience (in Iowa). I’ve been playing lots of minutes and I think my game has come a good way. I just want to keep going on that, just improving everyday.”
By no means is Dumba a lock to stay at this level for the duration of the season. After all, he’s only 20 and the Wild have other solid defensemen to look at. But with the powerful shot, skating ability and aggressive approach he brings to the ice, he’ll find his way to a full time role eventually. Dumba will get his next chance to make an impact when the Wild take on Columbus on Monday night at Xcel Energy Center.