The Edmonton Oilers left the 2016 NHL Entry Draft with a new Finnish RW prospect and an arsenal of prospective defensemen. However, the team did not return with a number-one right-handed defender, and rumors continue to swirl around the Oilers blogosphere.
One of them is a rumor that the Oilers are in talks with the Minnesota Wild about acquiring right-handed defenseman Matt Dumba in exchange for someone like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. However, this would be a huge overpay for Edmonton, and the team wouldn’t get a top-four defender.
The 21-year-old comes in at just 6-foot, 193 pounds, and his scouting report points out some pros and cons.
"“Pros: Has electric skating ability and a very aggressive approach to the game. Can rush up the ice with the puck with aplomb, and provide huge open-ice hits that change the momentum of a game. Can also log big point shot, too.Flaws: Needs to play a little more in control in order to maximize his vast all-round potential in the National Hockey League. Must also fill out his 6-0 frame to better handle the rigors of the pro game. At times, he struggles with the decision making process.”"
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So in a sense, he is the answer, but is not the answer for Edmonton. He is an excellent skater who is a proven puck-mover, provides a wicked shot and can make big hits. However, he struggles when it comes to quick decision-making, he’s on the smaller side and he lacks control.
In a sense, he sounds like another Darnell Nurse-type defenseman.
In 81 games with Minnesota this past season, Dumba scored 26 points (10 G, 16 A) and put up a plus-1 and only 38 PIM. In his entire career, Dumba has tallied 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points and a plus-9 rating in 152 NHL games with the Wild.
Dumba’s numbers are nowhere near mediocre, but they are not excellent. There are players, such as Kevin Shattenkirk, who stack up better than Dumba is, but still, Dumba is impressive. He also suited up for Team Canada in the IIHF World Hockey Championships. He is a tough defenseman who isn’t afraid to throw his weight around and can definitely change the game through the way he plays.
Let’s get into some of his more advanced statistics to see how he stacks up.
Here are Matt Dumba's advanced stats. Upward potential for the 21-year-old, but is he worth Ryan Nugent-Hopkins? pic.twitter.com/AkiVP8JOFj
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) June 27, 2016
As you can see, he’s a pretty physical defenseman, who also has the ability to contribute points and puts up a strong relative Corsi, meaning that when he’s on the ice, his team likely has control of the puck. He lacks when it comes to shot-blocking, however, and he only made 56 blocks this past season.
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The bottom line is that Dumba definitely has an upside and will only improve from here, but he is not the answer to the Oilers’ problems. Sure, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be a part of it, but if Nugent-Hopkins is headed to St. Paul, then I am expecting Dumba and then some. Nuge holds a lot more value than just Matt Dumba, so I would expect someone like Jared Spurgeon or a first-rounder as well.