The Minnesota Wild have made a surprising roster announcement minutes ago.
22-year-old defenseman Matt Dumba will be a healthy scratch tonight ahead of the Wild’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Oddly, AHL call-up Mike Reilly will be the one to replace him in the lineup.
The strangest part of this decision by head coach Bruce Boudreau is the reasoning behind the call:
“Dumba is going to be a really good player. He is right now. He’s trying to do too much. We just want him to calm it down,” Boudreau told the Star Tribune.
Fresh off of a two-year contract extension signed during the offseason for a total of $5.1 million, this kind of “bridge” deal is perfect for a young player who’s looking to prove that he’s got what it takes to earn himself a long-term, lucrative deal after his current deal expires.