With the Wild already short blue-line depth and injured Marco Scandella and Jonas Brodin still a few weeks from playing, veteran defenseman Tom Gilbert tweaked his groin during Wednesday's intrasquad game.
Coach Mike Yeo said it's not serious and the hope is he will be ready for Saturday's opener against Colorado.
If Gilbert, who routinely logged 30 minutes a night late last season, is unable to play, that leaves Steven Kampfer, who has played 61 NHL games and scored in the scrimmage, or 18-year-old Matt Dumba as likely replacements.
Dumba, a 2012 first-round pick who plays for Red Deer of the Western Hockey League, was at his best in Wednesday's scrimmage.
He skated well, wowed fans with a few blistering one-timers and assisted on Nick Palmieri's first-period power-play goal. He even played for both teams, trading his red jersey for a white in the second period to replace Gilbert on the other team.
Of course, he has an advantage because he has been playing all year.
"It is a big jump from junior," Dumba said. "The guys just move the puck so quick here and they're so smart when doing it, so you've got to be sharp. I think I've adjusted to it fairly well. And I think my skating just helps me do that."
The Wild is at a maximum 50 contracts, so GM Chuck Fletcher can't simply sign a defenseman if he needs one without getting rid of a contract. If the Wild needs a defenseman, Fletcher's choices are in Houston, making a trade or keeping Dumba. Fletcher said the Wild has been informed that Dumba's contract would not count toward the 50 until he plays six games.
