Matt Dumba Discusses His Frustration After Being Benched For the First Two Games of the Season
Photo credit: NHL.com
New Penguins defenseman Matt Dumba is expressing his frustration at having already been scratched in each of the first two games of the new season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Matt Dumba from the Dallas Stars over the summer as well as a 2nd round pick in the 2028 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Vladislav Kolyachonok.
Dumba, who passed the 700 career game mark last year with the Stars, has yet to play a single game for the Penguins even though it's still very early in the new season.
But that hasn't stopped him from expressing his frustration at having been made a healthy scratch for Pittsburgh's first pair of games of the year by coach Dan Muse.
You work really hard during the summer to come in here and show your best game. I thought I did that. Just as a competitor and a person that believes in himself, I thought I had earned that. You're upset. You always want more for yourself and believe in yourself, just as a competitor.
At the same time, you've got to balance that with being a good teammate, showing up every day and just continuing to work hard. At any moment, you need to be ready. That's how this league is. There's always a next guy up and everyone is always working hard and competing to be in that lineup. - Matt Dumba
The Penguins are getting ready for a 3 game western road trip that takes them to Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose. It's possible that Dumba could see his 1st game with the Penguins at some point on the trip, or he may in fact have to wait until later in the schedule.
Dumba was taken with the 7th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild, with whom he played the 1st several years of his career.
After they decided against re-signing him in 2023, he joined the Arizona Coyotes on a 1 year contract, but would be traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2024 Trade Deadline.
He then signed a 2 year contract with the Stars last summer, and played in 63 games last year with the team.
In 737 career NHL games, Dumba has 258 points (84G, 174A).
At the same time, you've got to balance that with being a good teammate, showing up every day and just continuing to work hard. At any moment, you need to be ready. That's how this league is. There's always a next guy up and everyone is always working hard and competing to be in that lineup. - Matt Dumba
The Penguins are getting ready for a 3 game western road trip that takes them to Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose. It's possible that Dumba could see his 1st game with the Penguins at some point on the trip, or he may in fact have to wait until later in the schedule.
Matt Dumba recently crossed the 700 games played threshold in the NHL
Dumba was taken with the 7th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild, with whom he played the 1st several years of his career.
After they decided against re-signing him in 2023, he joined the Arizona Coyotes on a 1 year contract, but would be traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2024 Trade Deadline.
He then signed a 2 year contract with the Stars last summer, and played in 63 games last year with the team.
In 737 career NHL games, Dumba has 258 points (84G, 174A).
