Wild loan D Matt Dumba to Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Fresh off a disappointing turn with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships, Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba has been loaned to the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League for the duration of the season.

Dumba got into 13 games with the Wild this fall and performed reasonably well despite some occasionally iffy defensive coverage (of the sort one would expect from a 19-year-old defenseman). In playing thirteen games this season Dumba's entry-level contract will be "tolled" for a year of service, however, he won't accrue a year towards unrestricted free-agency.

The Portland Winterhawks are currently first in the WHL's U.S. Division with a 25-12-2 record. In Portland Dumba will re-join three of his World Junior Hockey Championship teammates in defenseman Derrick Pouliot and forwards Taylor Leier, and Nicholas Petan.