After giving up seven goals in a game for the second time in January, the Minnesota Wild had to do something to address their goaltending situation.
On Wednesday afternoon the team announced that it traded a third-round draft pick in 2015 to Arizona for goalie Devan Dubnyk. TSN’s Bob McKenzie was the first to report the news.
MIN acquires goalie Devan Dubnyk from PHX for a draft pick.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 14, 2015
Dubnyk, 28, was a drafted by Edmonton in the first round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-6 netminder has skated in 192 career games in six NHL seasons with Edmonton, Nashville and Arizona.
Wild coach Mike Yeo told KFAN that Dubnyk will make his Wild debut when the team attempts to snap a six-game losing streak at Buffalo on Thursday night.
Yeo tells @KFAN1003 that Dubnyk will get the start for #mnwild tonight in Buffalo.
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 15, 2015
According to ESPN, he signed with the Coyotes to serve as the backup to Mike Smith, but Dubnyk has been more consistent than Smith (7-17), recording more two more wins in just 19 games.
For what it's worth, Devan Dubnyk has a 9-5-2 record this season with a .916 save percentage and 2.72 GAA. #mnwild
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) January 14, 2015
Goaltending issues have plagued the Wild during a stretch of 12 losses in their last 14 games – including six straight.
After a strong start, Darcy Kuemper has been inconsistent over the last month, before he was shut down with a lower body injury. The Pioneer Press reports Kuemper has started skating, but there’s no timetable set for his return.
Niklas Backstrom, who took over for Kuemper, has struggled mightily. He has allowed at least three goals in his last 10 starts, including six on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
