Tony Dean: MNWild Young Talented Defensive Corps Where They Fit WildHBcommunity: MNWild Young Talented Defensive Corps Where They Fit


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I still would like to see a legit partner for Suter instead of playing the "what if" game with the rest of the d-core.

Every time I hear Dumba's name, it makes me think, "we could've had Trouba". Damn, I wish we had Trouba.

I still would like to see a legit partner for Suter instead of playing the "what if" game with the rest of the d-core.
- KxKodiak47

Who comes to mind as a legit partner?

I was pretty upset about it too but they probably wouldn't have gone after folin if we drafted trouba

I was pretty upset about it too but they probably wouldn't have gone after folin if we drafted trouba
- joco0501

I could've lived with that.

Who comes to mind as a legit partner?
- Chinaski

Anyone not named Spurgeon please

Best bet is still Brodin and Suter as your top pairing. Spurge and Scandy, Ballard and Blum/Folin.

Anyone not named Spurgeon please
- SotaPopinski

Well he is currently the 2nd highest paid defenseman on the Wild.

Well he is currently the 2nd highest paid defenseman on the Wild.
- MnGump

Wasn't Heatley the second highest paid forward last year?

Best bet is still Brodin and Suter as your top pairing. Spurge and Scandy, Ballard and Blum/Folin.
- MnGump

I could live with that, though a Blum/Ballard pairing doesn't inspire much confidence. This Folin kid better pan out

Every time I hear Dumba's name, it makes me think, "we could've had Trouba". Damn, I wish we had Trouba.
- Chinaski

I hope, after next season, I can come back to you and ask who you would rather have. Dumba will be alright, I think. Very alright

I hope, after next season, I can come back to you and ask who you would rather have. Dumba will be alright, I think. Very alright
- SotaPopinski

I don't disagree. I just think Trouba is going to be a horse. And he is one nasty f*cker. Something we are truly lacking. I don't see Dumba topping out where Trouba will. But if Dumba reaches his potential, it will go a long way for this team.

I don't disagree. I just think Trouba is going to be a horse. And he is one nasty f*cker. Something we are truly lacking. I don't see Dumba topping out where Trouba will. But if Dumba reaches his potential, it will go a long way for this team.
- Chinaski

I guess I haven't seen enough of his game to view him as highly as you. Would love to have him on this team but I can see why Fletch and Flahr went with Dumba. It would be a pretty big hit if the Dumba pick turns out to be a miss.

I guess I haven't seen enough of his game to view him as highly as you. Would love to have him on this team but I can see why Fletch and Flahr went with Dumba. It would be a pretty big hit if the Dumba pick turns out to be a miss.
- SotaPopinski

Seth Jones was a year younger than him in the WJC a couple of years ago and I thought Trouba was a better all around defensemen - just my opinion.

He had a few injuries last year, but he was one of the top minute defensemen for the Jets. And he's 20. He's Brodin - not quite as good a skater, but not far off - with a lot more Chris Pronger in him.

I think the reason they went with Dumba is Dumba probably rates as a better offensive defenseman than Trouba, potentially. Probably a little bit better/more explosive skater, probably a bit more of a booming shot from the point. They likely figured they had their solid core d-men in Suter and Brodin, so they rolled the dice a little on Dumba because of his big play ability. It's really not a bad gamble.

But Trouba is already playing over 20 minutes per game and the Wild lack physicality. Maybe Fletcher and Flahr didn't think that would be the case at this point. But at the end of this upcoming season, I think Trouba will have two solid NHL seasons under his belt playing a significant role and Dumba may have a dozen or so NHL games played as a bottom pairing guy.

I think Wild fans will tie Trouba to Dumba forever but the thing to realize is Dumba may not be the two-way that Trouba will become but Dumba was basically a point or more a game with Portland through his arrival and the playoffs so dont discount how high Dumba's ceiling still is. Sure he failed to launch last year in his 13 games but Granlund played more than that his rookie year and came back to realize potential and aspecial billing in his 2nd year. Dmen develop differently than forwards in transition to NHL. Dumba is a special talent will show it by leading Baby Wild this year.

I think Wild fans will tie Trouba to Dumba forever but the thing to realize is Dumba may not be the two-way that Trouba will become but Dumba was basically a point or more a game with Portland through his arrival and the playoffs so dont discount how high Dumba's ceiling still is. Sure he failed to launch last year in his 13 games but Granlund played more than that his rookie year and came back to realize potential and aspecial billing in his 2nd year. Dmen develop differently than forwards in transition to NHL. Dumba is a special talent will show it by leading Baby Wild this year.
- Tony Dean

Something tells me Dumba will be a multi-year development. In talking to a couple of hard core Red Deer fans last season(cousins of a close friend), they were Dumba fans, but both thought that Dumbas peak had already been reached in his sophomore year and that his moments of brilliance were most times matched by his moments of blunder.

Of course that's their words, but neither really had a bad word to say about him outside of trying to state what they thought were simply the facts.

I hope he falls into place, but I'm not holding my breath this season. I think it will be a bit of a long process for young Mathew. But that's just my opinion.

Something tells me Dumba will be a multi-year development. In talking to a couple of hard core Red Deer fans last season(cousins of a close friend), they were Dumba fans, but both thought that Dumbas peak had already been reached in his sophomore year and that his moments of brilliance were most times matched by his moments of blunder.

Of course that's their words, but neither really had a bad word to say about him outside of trying to state what they thought were simply the facts.

I hope he falls into place, but I'm not holding my breath this season. I think it will be a bit of a long process for young Mathew. But that's just my opinion.
- MnGump

Defenseman develop differently from top tier forward prospects. Look at Derek Pouliot or Griffen Reinhardt they are considered #1 guys on the Junior Level with NHL top pairing type ceilings but they are NOT close to competing in the NHL yet. Even with Trouba who I think is a talented kid, he didnt blow me away the times I saw him play. There is just a ton more opportunity on a crap Jets team IMO.

Also Wild fans probably need to consider Fletcher kept Dumba in MN to have leverage on his trade to Portland rather then be returned to a dumpy Red Deer team that he was the best player on and basically only draw at the ticket office. Plus getting him some Team Canada experience was a good deal too. Gotta relax this kid has dynamic talent he is no Cuma type.

Defenseman develop differently from top tier forward prospects. Look at Derek Pouliot or Griffen Reinhardt they are considered #1 guys on the Junior Level with NHL top pairing type ceilings but they are NOT close to competing in the NHL yet. Even with Trouba who I think is a talented kid, he didnt blow me away the times I saw him play. There is just a ton more opportunity on a crap Jets team IMO.

Also Wild fans probably need to consider Fletcher kept Dumba in MN to have leverage on his trade to Portland rather then be returned to a dumpy Red Deer team that he was the best player on and basically only draw at the ticket office. Plus getting him some Team Canada experience was a good deal too. Gotta relax this kid has dynamic talent he is no Cuma type.
- Tony Dean

I'm not doubting Dumba's ability to be a quality defenseman in the NHL. I just don't think he's going to bring the physical presence that Trouba will on a consistent basis. And I'm not sure his offensive upside is going to be leaps and bounds ahead of Trouba. Time will tell, but at this point the Wild lack a physical blueliner. Trouba has that without sacrificing skating ability, smarts, and offense. I just think he would be a really nice fit on this team at this point.

Every time I hear Fletcher may still make a trade for a defenseman, I can't figure out who would be a target, who he would give up, and where (what pairing) that defenseman would play. I'm not sure that's what is going on, but if it is, they see a deficiency on the blueline they may want to address now.

A Top pairing with Dumba and Olofsson are bound to be a great fit in Iowa. With Olofsson anchoring and letting Dumba jump into the offensive play- they complement each other nicely. The real question will be what happens to these two next year- and where they could fit on the NHL roster.

A Top pairing with Dumba and Olofsson are bound to be a great fit in Iowa. With Olofsson anchoring and letting Dumba jump into the offensive play- they complement each other nicely. The real question will be what happens to these two next year- and where they could fit on the NHL roster.
- Heineken-77

Probably no where to be honest. Unless Dumba takes up a bottom pairing, I see Olofsson taking it before him. Dumba is not going to be ready by next season, and I'd bet money on it.

Probably no where to be honest. Unless Dumba takes up a bottom pairing, I see Olofsson taking it before him. Dumba is not going to be ready by next season, and I'd bet money on it.
- MnGump

I disagree. Dumba will play regular mins in NHL before Olofsson. Dumba probably plays regular mins in MN this year. Injuries man. Maybe a trade to clear space but he is close.

Probably no where to be honest. Unless Dumba takes up a bottom pairing, I see Olofsson taking it before him. Dumba is not going to be ready by next season, and I'd bet money on it.
- MnGump

It might be good for them to be the bottom pairing for a season. Ballard, Blum, and Folin only have one year left on their deals. So there may be room for them and it might be a better transition to the NHL for them to play less minutes at first.

Probably no where to be honest. Unless Dumba takes up a bottom pairing, I see Olofsson taking it before him. Dumba is not going to be ready by next season, and I'd bet money on it.
- MnGump

Ooh, I may have to take this bet.

I disagree. Dumba will play regular mins in NHL before Olofsson. Dumba probably plays regular mins in MN this year. Injuries man. Maybe a trade to clear space but he is close.
- Tony Dean

He's closer than Gump may think but I believe it would be in the Wilds best interest to keep him in Iowa all year unless of an emergency.