Now that defenseman Jonas Brodin has returned to the lineup, the Wild assigned rookie Matt Dumba to the American Hockey League for the first time in his pro career Saturday.

The Wild was close to sending the 20-year-old to Iowa two weeks ago, but the brakes were hit when Brodin and Marco Scandella got the mumps.

Now Dumba, who was learning on the fly in the NHL and suffering through growing pains, will have the ability to log big minutes in big situations in Iowa to aid his development.

"He's done some good things here, but right now with the minutes that he's playing, the fact that we've got some guys playing in roles and situations that he needs to be playing in, we felt it was best served to do this," coach Mike Yeo said.

Dumba, drafted seventh overall in 2012, made the Wild out of training camp last season in large part because he could work with assistant coaches Rick Wilson and Darryl Sydor. Because he was younger than 20, he was not permitted to be sent to AHL Houston (his eight games there in 2013 were on an amateur tryout).

When Dumba played only 13 games by December, the Wild loaned him to Team Canada for the world juniors, then returned him to juniors after his rights were traded from Red Deer to Portland.

This season, Dumba had a solid training camp, especially late to make the team. He scored one goal and had three assists in 20 games, was minus-4 and had 28 shots. He made some costly mistakes, often with a propensity of trying to make something out of nothing.

Still, playing in the minors is a natural part of a player's progression, especially when it comes to young defensemen. Along with goalie Josh Harding, Dumba is expected to make his Iowa debut Sunday at San Antonio.

"He's such an important part of our future," Yeo said.

Etc.

•The Wild recalled defenseman Justin Falk, but he was scratched against St. Louis. So was Stu Bickel.

•Defenseman Keith Ballard returned after missing Friday's game with a sore back.