Three games in, Matt Dumba hasn't played a game yet. But that doesn't mean sticking around the Wild, as opposed to immediately going back to his junior team, is a bad thing for a wide-eyed 18-year-old defenseman.
"He's participating in practices, he's participating in warmup," coach Mike Yeo said. "For a guy like that to be around NHL players and not only have the chance to skate and practice with them, but to also see how they prepare and how they conduct themselves, it's been very valuable to him."
Dumba, who plays for Red Deer of the Western Hockey League, is ineligible to play in the American Hockey League because he is too young. But he outperformed Houston defensemen during the Wild's short training camp.
So with only six healthy defensemen, the Wild opted to keep Dumba as it waits for Jonas Brodin and Marco Scandella to return to Houston's lineup. Brodin, who underwent surgery for a broken clavicle in November, might play Wednesday. Scandella, who has a groin injury, might play Friday.
So while Dumba might be an injury away from making his NHL debut (Jared Spurgeon did miss part of Tuesday's game because of a foot injury, but X-rays were negative), the likelihood is he will eventually end up back in Red Deer once Brodin or Scandella is ready for Minnesota.
"If there comes a time where we don't feel we need him around or if we feel it's not helping his development, then we'll make that decision," Yeo said.
If Dumba, the Wild's 2012 first-round draft pick, plays fewer than six games, the first year of his contract rolls and he will remain on a three-year deal.
"With his ability to skate, to shoot, to jump in the offense, to play physical, he's got all the physical tools to be a dynamic player," assistant GM Brent Flahr said. "We've got to be patient in our expectations though."
