Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League
Bienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey
Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin
Välkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida
Vítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey League
Vitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey League
Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League
Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League
EDINA, Minn. — Matt Dumba knows the Minnesota Wild still have another step to take despite a record-setting season in 2021-22.
The Wild set their record for most wins (53) and points (113) in a season to finish second in the Central Division, but they were eliminated by the St. Louis Blues in six games in the Western Conference First Round.
Minnesota has not advanced past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2015 (lost six straight series).
“We all know what a great regular season we had, but it’s time for us to get back to work and focus on a deeper run in the postseason,” Dumba said on Monday at Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 summer hockey league comprised of NHL and Division I players with ties to Minnesota. “We have to get over that hump.”
The Wild will return the bulk of their roster from last season, with the exceptions being forward Kevin Fiala, who was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on June 29, and goalie Cam Talbot, who was traded to the Ottawa Senators on July 12.
Minnesota was able to re-sign goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to a two-year, $7 million contract ($3.5 million average annual value) on July 7, and defenseman Jacob Middleton to a three-year, $7.35 million contract ($2.45 million AAV) on July 6. Both Fleury (from the Chicago Blackhawks) and Middleton (San Jose Sharks) had been acquired in trades on March 21.
“It’ll be awesome (having those guys back),” Dumba said. “Those guys are going to be a big part of our team. We’re going to need everyone this coming season. To start the year with those guys, building our relationships, kind of a brothers in arms type of thing, and not just prove everyone wrong, but prove that we can make a deep run and we can be great. We can do it again this season.”
Dumba did acknowledge the opportunity available to young players this season with the absence of Fiala, who was second on Minnesota with an NHL career-high 85 points (33 goals, 52 assists) in 82 games last season.
One of those players could possibly be Liam Ohgren, who was selected with the No. 19 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, which Minnesota had acquired in the trade for Fiala. The 18-year-old forward, who had 58 points (33 goals, 25 assists) in 30 games with Djurgardens IF in the Swedish Junior League last season, signed a three-year, entry-level contract on July 16.
Another player, though, is Marco Rossi, who was selected with the No. 9 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old forward led Iowa of the American Hockey League in assists (35), was tied for first in points (53), and was fourth in goals (18) in 63 regular-season games last season.
“I think those young guys will recognize that they have a chance to make this team and make an immediate impact,” Dumba said. “They will be out there competing their hardest, and we’ll all be pushing each other and hold each other accountable right from the start.
“Someone’s going to step up, and why not be a young guy? But ultimately, we’re all about being unselfish, so we all have to be ready to step up from Day One.”
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, Stanley Cup Final logo, Stanley Cup Qualifiers name and logo, NHL.TV, Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Network Showdown name and logo, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, NHL Mascots, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It’s The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, NHL Power Players name and logo, NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe name and logo, NHL Street name and logo, and Don’t Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2022. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players’ names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc.© Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2022. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
