Matt Dumba Named AHL Player of the Week After Standout Weekend for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Matt Dumba’s been in the league long enough to know how to make an impact-but this past weekend, he reminded everyone just how dominant he can be when everything clicks. The veteran defenseman was named the AHL’s Player of the Week after piling up six points (one goal, five assists) and a plus-4 rating over two statement wins for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Let’s break it down.
Saturday night, the Penguins hosted the Syracuse Crunch for Crosscheck Cancer Night-a game that turned emotional before the puck even dropped. Dumba met a young cancer patient and her family on the bench during warmups, and then went out and scored a goal he dedicated to them. He added an assist in that 4-1 win, but it was clear this one meant more than just numbers on a scoresheet.
Then came Sunday, and Dumba turned in one of the most productive games of his 13-year pro career. Four assists.
First-star honors. A 6-2 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
And for the first time in his long run across the NHL and AHL, Dumba had a four-assist night. That’s saying something for a player who’s seen just about everything the game can throw at you.
Since joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in mid-December, Dumba’s been steady, logging two goals and nine assists in 17 games. He started the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he notched a goal and two assists in 11 NHL contests before being reassigned. But if recent performances are any indication, he’s found a rhythm in the AHL that’s allowing his veteran instincts and offensive upside to shine.
Dumba’s journey has been a winding one. Drafted seventh overall by the Minnesota Wild back in 2012, he’s played nearly 750 NHL games across stints with the Wild, Stars, Lightning, Coyotes, and Penguins. He’s tallied 85 goals and 176 assists at the NHL level-solid numbers for a defenseman known for both his physicality and puck-moving ability.
His AHL resume isn’t extensive, but it’s got some history. He made his pro debut with the Houston Aeros back in 2013, and has since suited up for Houston, Iowa, and now Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, totaling 40 games in the league. This past weekend, though, might be his most memorable stretch in the AHL to date.
Dumba becomes the second Penguin this season to earn AHL Player of the Week honors, joining Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who took home the award in late December. And with the All-Star break around the corner, Dumba’s performance couldn’t have come at a better time-for both the player and the team.
Next up, the Penguins host the Hershey Bears on Wednesday night in their final home game before the break. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. If Dumba keeps playing like this, he’ll be a name to watch down the stretch-not just in Wilkes-Barre, but potentially back in Pittsburgh, too.