7. RD Matt Dumba - Red Deer (WHL)

DOB: Jul. 25/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 185lbs 
TSR Midterm Rank: 8

Dumba came into the season with high expectations and he certainly lived up to them, tallying a very impressive 20 goals to go along with his 57 points in only 66 games - more than doubling his offensive production from his rookie season. Dumba is a player who makes plays that impact the game, generally positively, albeit sometimes negatively. Puck rushing, hard shot, offensive, and dynamic are all adjectives that could be used to describe his style. Despite being a bit undersized, Dumba also has no fear to throw bone-rattling hits and generally is willing to initiate contact at any time.

Refinement is going to be key to Dumba’s development moving forward. Decision making and defensive efficiency are areas where Dumba needs to show improvement. Too often he toils between making a big hit and being caught as a spectator, an area where he needs to find more of a middle point. Dumba went from a +23 a year ago to a -6 this season, which starts to paint some of the picture of his defensive concerns. Positioning, however, is something that can be worked on, and with his offensive style of play it’s no surprise to see that he’s going to take a little longer to come around as a complete 3-zone player.

As mentioned, Dumba’s size is going to be a bit of a concern when projecting to the NHL level. Dumba is a physical specimen with great core strength, but at the NHL level, he just isn’t that big considering the style of play he’s become accustomed to. Durability issues could become an issue for Dumba and are likely in the back of every GM’s mind. With that being said, it plays hand-in-hand with his style - risk vs. reward.

In a draft that lacks dynamic players, Dumba has as high of a ceiling as anyone. his ability to create offense and run a powerplay is comparable to any player in this draft, while his physical style of play is a cherry on the cake. Dumba likely needs at least another season in the WHL, but we can expect him to be wearing an NHL jersey relatively soon.

Pros: Great skater, hard shot, excellent vision, physical player, physical specimen, leadership quality.

Cons: Hockey IQ is a bit low, needs better positioning in defensive zone.

Skillset Comparison: P.K. Subban

Tags: 2012 NHL Draft, 2012 nhl draft prospects, Matt Dumba