Brian Dumoulin is proving he's much more than a typical "stay-at-home" defenseman
Brian Dumoulin is proving he's much more than a typical "stay-at-home" defenseman
Anaheim Ducks general Manager Pat Verbeek took some sizable swings on the opening day of free agency in the summer of 2024 but failed to persuade the biggest names on the market to put pen to paper.
A Quiet Start to Free Agency in Anaheim
A day later, on July 2, Verbeek traded a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for defenseman Brian Dumoulin.
Verbeek is on record that he preferred a right shot, but handedness aside, Dumoulin provided the Ducks with exactly what they needed from an on-ice and off-ice perspective.
On the ice, Dumoulin has six assists in 23 games with the Ducks in 2024-25 while averaging 19:54 per night and playing on the team's top penalty kill unit.
His reputation is that of a "stay-at-home" defensive defenseman. While his defensive technique is flawless, and he plays a simple game in the offensive zone, he brings significantly more to the table than the prototypical, hulking, stationary defender of years past.
The aspect of his game that is most surprising has been his ability to absorb or slip forecheckers and make crisp, undisrupted first passes out of his zone on breakouts.
"I think my biggest thing is breakouts," Dumoulin said. "Just being able to be clean and not just rim pucks but also make plays, try to create odd-man rushes, and be able to create an exit out of the zone that isn't just a high flip or a rim. I want to be able to create something where if forwards are fresh, they can get on a forecheck."
When retrieving pucks, Dumoulin often smartly reads opposing forechecking pressure before displaying a substantial amount of deception and easily evading the F1.
In doing so, he buys his forwards enough time to find passing lanes exiting the zone and gives himself a better angle to connect passes to spark a potential rush opportunity.
His blend of textbook defensive style and ability to keep opposing zone time to a minimum makes him a perfect defensive partner for one of the several young blueliners on the Ducks roster this season.
He provides a stable, trustworthy, and nurturing environment for the Ducks' stable of young, active defenders.
He, like Ducks' head coach Greg Cronin, values relationships with teammates (particularly his defensive partners) on a personal level and developing off-ice relationships with them so their on-ice communication is seamless.
For the first stretch of the season, Dumoulin was mostly paired with sophomore defenseman Pavel Mintyukov. With a portion of defensive responsibility lifted, Mintyukov was afforded the opportunity to explore the boundaries of his offensive capability when paired with Dumoulin.
Since Drew Helleson was recalled from the San Diego Gulls on Nov. 13, he's been paired primarily with Dumoulin, a fellow Boston College alumni.
Dumoulin to Bring Consistency, Leadership, and Stability to Ducks Blueline
"He's been great, super easy to talk to," Helleson said of his newest partner. "He just told me to play my game, play simple, and things will come once you get out there. It's just hockey at the end of the day, and it's what you've been doing your whole life, so just follow your instincts, and it'll be alright."
Helleson has four points in eight games this season and is noticeably more comfortable with each passing NHL shift. His defensive diligence is only matched by Dumoulin's, and his ability to diagnose a forecheck is improving rapidly with repetition.
While someone like Mintyukov or Olen Zellweger may see a partnership with Dumoulin as an opportunity to stretch their offensive wings, Helleson may recognize it as a learning opportunity and adapt some of Dumoulin's assets and capabilities into his own game while also exploring the depths of his offense.
Dumoulin's contract expires at the end of the 2024-25 season, and whether he's just in Anaheim until the trade deadline, the end of the season, or signs an extension, his impact on the Ducks' blueline will likely ripple into the distant future for the organization.
Ducks' Top Prospect Snubbed from Canada World Junior Selection Camp
Pair of Ducks Prospects Named to Team USA World Juniors Selection Roster