Matt Dumba

Struggling Wild defenseman Dumba vows to improve play

Published Oct. 20, 2015 3:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

After finishing with a flourish last season, Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba knows he's stumbled out of the blocks to begin the 2015-16 campaign.

Dumba answered a solid playoff performance by recording just one assist and a minus-2 rating in five games this season. The 21-year-old was a minus-2 and logged 16:46 of ice time in Minnesota's 4-1 setback to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

"It’s early. All this could go away after this weekend if I play three good games, and then it’s all cleared up. And that’s my plan," Dumba told Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I’m going to use these next two days to get myself focused, get my mind ready and just go play good hockey like I know I can. ... Come Columbus, you’ll see a different Matt Dumba."

Dumba collected eight goals and as many assists in 58 games last season for the Wild, who will play four of their next five contests at home - beginning with Thursday's tilt versus the Blue Jackets.

The seventh overall pick of the 2012 draft, Dumba scored two goals and set up two others during the Wild's two-round stint in the playoffs.

#MNWild coach Mike Yeo stressed that Matt Dumba needs to return to the way he was playing late last season/playoffs.
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) October 20, 2015

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Matt Dumba

Minnesota Wild

National Hockey League