I was going to make a post like this with a trade but I honestly couldn’t figure one out. I’m not super hip with the goings in Minnesota but from what I read, it appears to be somewhat of a mutual decision between coach and player. There was a quote I read from the coach that said, “He knows why he’s sitting out”.

So whether or not this is a precursor to a trade is unclear but a healthy scratch for a player of his caliber definitely raises some eyebrows. I would also think in order to maximize the return they’d get for him, trading him this early before the deadline could accomplish that, so we’ll see.

Probably not a trade, but obviously you can't rule one out with how much Dumba's name has been in the rumor mill

The whole Dumba situation is super weird. The official line is that his play on Tuesday wasn’t up to snuff. Which, OK, the whole team was trash.

I suspect this is trade related tho. People here will hate on Dumba but he is clearly the 4th best D man on the team. It could be they’re giving Goose a shot to show he can play with Brods and to get the rust off.

I’ll also add that the reporting is it’s likely he gets shipped out by the TDL but the talk of what the return looks, along with the carry on effects of moving him, doesn’t make sense IMO.

He got hurt? I didn’t see that. And sitting for injury implies trade related to me….

Pretty sure Russo was saying Deano was banging his elbow there in frustration in regards to Dumba's turnover. Not that Dumba himself is injured.

As with all Dumba talk, I never cease to be confused.

I was going to say, I don’t think he’s fallen off at all right? He still seems like a legit top 4 Defenseman.

He is unequivocally a #4, maybe a #3. He excels at exits and getting the puck from d zone to o zone. He’s not the best in zone defender but he’s going to give your offense a boost and give you average play in the d zone.

He absolutely is.

His defense ranks in the 95th percentile for defense by all defenders this year. He's much better defensively than people give him credit for. His offense has dried up a ton, and he's never been the same after the fight with Matt Tkachuk.

But he's gotten better defensively as a result.

That said, he has a penchant for still making bone headed plays given his background as a offensive defenseman when he first started.

Tuesday's game, wasn't good. Both Evason and Dumba agree on that front. Which is why he's sitting, it was a mutual decision by both the coach and player.

Which is why his defensive metrics ranking in the 95th percentile is surprising to anyone who sees it.

I still think and hope its a trade..... I was looking for a team that needs a D and isn't playing tonight -- Pens? for Kapanen as he would still fit with the cap next year and all I keep hearing is we are doing "lateral" moves. I think Pens would need to add a pick as Dumba even heading into UFA has more value to a playoff teams run than Kapanen.

Does he not have the points because he doesn't play on the top powerplay by chance? I don't follow the Wild that much but I think Addison is the PP1 defender right?

He’s on pace for roughly 25 points this year, all even strength. He hasn’t played PP for the last 2 years. And you are correct about Addison.

I hope you don’t consider Addison as better than Dumba!…

Yes, that's part of it.

He's been taken off the PP this year entirely. Addison QB's PP1, and Spurgeon QB's PP2. So there isn't room for him there anymore.

But his offense in general dried up after tearing his left pectoral muscle in his fight with Matt Tkachuk 4 years ago.

He's more or less lost the cannon of a slap shot he used to have and be known for. In part because he lost his accuracy, which wasn't very good to begin with, and some due to loss of power. And also secondly because he's stopped using it entirely since Sean Walker took a puck to the face in a game against LA 2 years ago. Dumba was visibly upset and looked sick to his stomach after it happened. Walker ended up missing 3 weeks with a broken jaw because of it. I've never seen him attemp another slap shot again since that incident. I think the guilt he felt over that accident made him consciously decide against using it.

That said, his offense may actually be making a comeback of sorts. He's shown a greater degree of willingness to utilize his skating and wristshots this year as opposed to before. And with much better accuracy than in years past. He may be trying to reinvent himself further, not just defensively speaking.

Defensively, not a chance.

Offensively... though.

Addison is a PP specialist in my book.

I wouldn't say Addison is better than Dumba, but I would say Addison is more valuable to the Wild right now. If the Wild ship off Dumba that spot could be filled without much being different, but without Addison I'm not so sure it would be easy as Addison just moves the puck so well on the PP (better and more fluently than Spurg). Also, Dumba turns the puck over way too much cuz he tries to do too much as he still thinks he's an OFF Dman unfortunately -- I think if he simplified his game even further he would be much more solid back there. Addison is def undersized but he steers guys very well and doesn't have the same problems he has in his own zone like he did earlier in the year.

I think Addison will be a top 4 guy but his defense is a year or 2 away. But man. That PP effectiveness is something to behold.

He's a rookie.

His offensive game will evolve to be proficient at even strength as well with time and greater responsibility.

His skating can and WILL translate to 5v5 offense.

Dumba was strictly a PP guy himself early on too.

Addison still sucks in our end!

How about below average? I don't think he sucks anymore, he did early on in the season, but he has started to actually defend guys not try to body them then get out muscled then beat to the net. I feel putting him back with Brodin would be the best move as Merril is just too slow and ineffective to really be a compliment to Addison. With more time I do see Addison as more than just a PP guy.

I hope Im wrong about Addison…I certainly have nothing against him, but I still see him as a career 3rd pairing guy who can QB the PP…and that’s it.

I don’t like the idea of Brodin and Addison playing together at all…especially during the playoffs! Spurgeon and Brodin already get exposed and marginalized in the playoffs and I will be surprised if Addison doesn’t as well.

Let's say Dumba is traded ( which he probably will be before the deadline ) where do you guys see him going? I could see him going to Edmonton or Ottawa.

To be frank.

Putting him with Brodin is our best option. Brodin is the only defender on the team who can cover for Addison's shortcomings, just like he did for Dumba all these years. Until Addison can get his defensive play in order, that's who his D-partner should be.