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WildHBcommunity: The Kuemper Hate is Real While Dumba Shipped to AHL

November 29, 2014, 5:23 PM ET [73 Comments]
Tony Dean
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
WildHBcommunity: The Kuemper Hate is Real While Dumba Shipped to AHL



The Minnesota Wild Fanbase is Divided on Who Should be the #1 Netminder

For many years now Minnesota Wild fans have been calling for the head of Niklas Backstrom, Manny Fernandez, Dwayne Roloson, Josh Harding, and now Darcy Kuemper. The goaltender turnstyle here in the 'State of Hockey' has been pretty unbelievable considering how well several of the netminders currently attached to the organization have performed in the past 3 seasons.

Backstrom specifically is the franchise leader in career games played at 397, wins with 192, shutouts 28, most wins in a single season with 37, and several other categories. Backstrom signed with the Wild in 2006 as European free agent and served as the backup to Fernandez until he became the starter when Manny blew up his knee near the midpoint of the season. Backstrom went on to win 23 of 41 games in his first season with the franchise.



The Wild then traded Fernandez before the 2007 season which paved the way for Backstrom to be the #1 guy here in Minnesota. Another reason Fernandez was moved to Boston, was to pave the way for 2002 2nd round selection Harding who had three seasons under his belt with the Houston Aeros of the AHL. With Backstrom as the starter and Harding as the goalie of the future it always seemed that a transition from the Finnish backstop to the young Canadian was inevitable but a longer string of unfortunate injuries never allowed that to come to fruition.

The past 3 seasons Backstrom has succumed to injuries and been unavailable to the Wild leaving the team scrambling for a replacement between the pipes. Backstrom has been labeled streaky and his play has shown he will either be lights out or fall off the cliff WHEN healthy. Harding was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis just as seemed he was poised to take over the starting job here in Minnesota. With Backstrom and Harding out of the picture due to injuries/illness last year it opened the door for 2009 6th round selection Kuemper.



As most of us remember, in that 2006 NHL draft the Wild selected a netminder with an NHL pedigree who was to be the future between the pipes named Matthew Hackett. After selecting Hackett in the 3rd round, the team then selected another backstop out of Red Deer of the WHL. Both Hackett and Kuemper played for the Houston Aeros during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. Kuemper was able to distinguish himself as having a higher upside and inevitably the Wild shipped Hackett to Buffalo as apart of a deal that brought Jason Pominville here to Minnesota.

My point in running down all of this netminder history of the Minnesota Wild is to focus attention of the reality that the fanbase has always been looking for the next best backstop. There have been plenty of anti-Backstrom fans in addition to those calling for Harding to bow out because his instability is unfair to his teammates. Now there seems to be a growing narrative that Kuemper is a basket case always on the verge of a meltdown. I realize that Ilya Bryzgalov is a polarizing personality and his performance down the stretch last captured the imagination of fans but he is NOT a better option than any of the goalies currently under contract with the organization.

I get that Wild fans are concerned with Kuemper giving up the 3 goals in one period two games in a row versus the Kings and Stars but I would argue that was on his teammates as much as it is on the kid. That Kings game was an abomination of effort and attitude. The Wild played their WORST 60 minutes of hockey all season. In Dallas there was literally 15 odd man rushes that went unaddressed during the stretch where Kuemper gave up 3 goals letting them back into the game. Also the Stars have top end talented scorers so i am not sure how fans can single out Kuemper as being COMPLETELY to blame there while his team floundered.



I realize that maybe Harding or Backstrom have a better ability to remain consistent with their play over the course of an entire NHL season but that also is my argument for patience with Kuemper. This kid has done everything in his power to rise to the NHL level in a short 2 1/2 seasons. I am not sure fans realize this kid taken late in the draft has met and excelled in every challenge he has been faced with since winning goaltender of the year in Red Deer during the 2010-11 season.

Headed Down the I-35 Pipeline Dynamite in a Small Package Mathew Dumba



In sending Mathew Dumba to the 'Baby Wild' it feels like a let down because of how dynamically talented this kid has shown to be at different levels of hockey since being selected 7th overall in the 2012 NHL draft. Dumba had a very good training camp with the Wild which provided him the opportunity to begin the season with the NHL club. He has played in 20 games this season with the Wild most of which came in a bottom pairing assignment and very limited power play time.

Dumba looked to be playing not to make a mistake which in large part is why sending him down to Des Moines was only delayed by the mumps virus that hit three of the Wild's top defenders in the past couple weeks. Dumba's still just 20 years old and certainly he has a bright future but right now he needs to gain some confidence and experience playing against professionals.

Previous to the season beginning I believed Dumba was certain to begin the year in Des Moines because he lacks ideal size and strength to play in the defensive zone against NHL competition. Now with John Torchetti back at the helm of the Iowa Wild, I think Dumba will get some valuable experience playing on the top pair for a fiery motivator behind the bench. Playing limited minutes at the NHL level was not exactly the optimal situation to have Dumba take the next step forward in his development and Wild head caoch Mike Yeo was using Nate Prosser to fill in for missing members of the Top 4 defenders anyways.



I was so impressed with how Dumba responded to being sent back to the WHL last season even though the Wild activated the first year of his entry level deal by keeping him beyond the minimum games played. Dumba must now master the American Hockey League which I think will provided him yet another challenge in his development that he will hit head on. I am excited for the 'Baby Wild' fans to get to watch Dumba fly around empowered because that is when his genius moments come to light.

Hopefully Dumba hits the ice running with the 'Baby Wild' and returns near the stretch run for the Wild the dynamic aggressive offensive minded defender that has caused many Wild fans to fall in love with his potential since his selection by the franchise.


Tonight Versus the St. Louis Blues it Will Get Ugly



The Minnesota natives on the St. Louis Blues roster have taken every opportunity to prove their point against the Wild in recent meetings. David Backes and T.J. Oshie have taken pleasure in pounding the Wild into submission recently especially given all the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter returning home steam of the past couple years.

The Blues added hometown guy Paul Statsny from division rival Colorado Avalanche this offseason. Lots of bad blood already existed between the Wild and Blues but to add Statsny is only further fuel to the fire between these franchises. Tonight the Blues come in to Saint Paul after breaking the Edmonton Oilers down in overtime with 4-3 victory. The Blues lost starting netminder Brain Elliot to a knee injury which caused them to sign Marty Brodeur to a tryout to help along young netminder of the future Jake Allen.

The Blues have been carried by the trio of youngsters Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Jori Lehtera. Not unlike the Wild, the veterans have played a more supplemental role while these kids have been the stars on a nightly basis. The Blues have a very talented blue line with a very strong mix of veterans and youngsters to help Allen in his transition to being the new #1 between the pipes.

I expect tonight's matchup to be a war. This should be a very good test of whether Yeo's squad is read to get their season back in 1st gear headed back towards the top of the standings. I predict a 3-1 victory for the Wild tonight!

Just My Take,
Tony Dean




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