(Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports)
During the second period of Game 1 of the 2023 first round series between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, Matt Dumba delivered a high hit Joe Pavelski and injured him. For the rest of the series, Dumba was booed viciously by Stars fans. Fast forward to July 2024, who could’ve imagined Dumba would join Big D?
Today, Dumba signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with Dallas. Dumba spent the 2023-24 season with the Coyotes and Lightning after leaving the Wild after the 2023 Playoffs concluded. Dumba will turn 30 years old in 24 days.
Dumba in a Stars jersey will be a tough pill to swallow for Stars fans. The hatred they gave Dumba was reasonable after his hit on Pavelski.
Despite being hated by Stars fans, the hard truth is the Stars needed a right shot defenseman who can bring physicality after the team lost Chris Tanev to the Maple Leafs earlier. Not many right handed defensemen were available to sign.
Yes, former Star John Klingberg was available to sign before Dumba. But, Klingberg had dealt with many injuries and missed a lot of games since leaving the Stars in July 2022.
Last season while playing for two teams, Dumba combined for 12 points (4G, 8A) in 76 games. Even with a -18 rating, Dumba brought physicality to his game. Dumba had another season of over 100 blocked shots, and the most hits in a season of his career with 202.
The Stars were unable to keep Tanev’s physicality this Summer, so the Stars had another option to keep physicality with signing Dumba.
If Dumba can contribute to help the Stars for the 2024-25 season, maybe Stars fans could “forgive” him for his 2023 hit on Pavelski. Dumba will have an attempt to win over Stars fans with being newly signed.
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