Wild's Dubnyk returns to desert for first time since trade
Although it's not a homecoming by conventional nature, Devan Dubnyk is looking forward to his return to the desert when the Minnesota Wild face the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday.
"It was a short time there, but an important time for me with the way I was treated there by the coaches, management and everything," Dubnyk told the team's website. "It was a special time for me. It was short, but (I'll) definitely always have good memories of that place."
Dubnyk posted a 9-5-2 mark in 19 appearances with Arizona in 2014-15 before he was traded to Minnesota on Jan. 14 for a third-round draft pick. The 29-year-old Saskatchewan native treated his former team rudely just three days later, stopping 25 shots in a 3-1 win before taking the league by storm.
Dubnyk secured a 27-9-2 mark with five shutouts, a 1.78 goals-against average and .936 save percentage in 39 games with the Wild. The impressive surge earned him Vezina Trophy finalist honors and led to a six-year, $26 million deal in the summer.
On Thursday, Dubnyk will look to show the Coyotes his appreciation.
