Wild name Matt Dumba and Marcus Foligno alternate captains

Sep. 25—The dismissal of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter this offseason left a void in the Wild locker room. Not only were they the faces of the franchise, they were both longtime alternate captains for the organization.

That void has now been filled by the biggest vocal leaders on the roster. After months of speculation from the fan base, the Wild officially named Matt Dumba and Marcus Foligno the new alternate captains on Saturday afternoon. They join captain Jared Spurgeon to form a solid leadership group.

This move makes a lot of sense, considering the role Dumba and Foligno play in the locker room. Though there's no doubt that Spurgeon is the unquestioned leader of the bunch, he has a somewhat quiet demeanor and does most of his leading by example.

That's where Dumba and Foligno come in. If the Wild ever need a spark, they can count on both of those guys to provide it.

For Dumba, 27, that often manifests itself in the locker room before games. He's the hype man that gets everyone fired up. He also curates the pregame playlist that plays over the loudspeakers.

For Foligno, 30, that often manifests itself on the ice during games. He has dropped the gloves countless times to stand up for his teammates. He has also been known to lay a big hit at a moment's notice.

While this is a big honor for both players, for Dumba specifically, it seems to carry some extra weight. He has long been the epicenter of trade rumors — something he has talked openly about — and this is an example of the Wild committing to him in a big way.

As for the rest of the team, coach Dean Evason has always said the Wild have a lot leaders on the locker room, and that won't change even with Dumba and Foligno now wearing letters.