Tyler Cuma's String Of Bad Luck Stretches To Airplanes

In a season which has seen 44 players suit up for the Minnesota Wild so far, one name which has continued to stay in Houston is 2008 first round pick defenseman Tyler Cuma.

2008 Draft Night with Cuma. Create Your Own Caption...

Taken before John Carlson and a player that former Minnesota General Manager Doug Risebrough traded a third-round pick to move up one spot to draft, Cuma has had his share of bad luck since being taken 23rd. Whether it is injuries, regime changes or even airplane flights from Houston to Phoenix, the last hope of avoiding five seasons (2004-2009) of first round busts cannot catch a break.

More on Cuma's luck after the jump...

Tyler's battle with leg injuries stretch back to after the draft when he played for the Ottawa 67's of the OHL. They continued once his professional career began as Cuma's tore his ACL last February when the Aeros played Peoria at the Xcel Energy Center. This season has seen him bounce back on the road to the NHL, scoring 7 assists in 57 games for the Aeros, while other defensemen like Nate Prosser, Justin Falk, Kris Freidham and the player drafted after him - Marco Scandella - got a chance to play with Minnesota.

For the most part, that's fine. It takes a year or more for anyone to fully recover from ACL surgery and Cuma needs to gain confidence to get his game back on track.

Tonight, however, was supposed to be Tyler's NHL debut. After Jared Spurgeon came down with the flu, Kurtis Foster's back continues to act up and another injury-plagued defenseman, Clayton Stoner, is still a ways away from returning from tearing a muscle off his hip 4 weeks ago, Cuma was the next choice (after him it's Chay Genoway, Kyle Medvec and Nordy).

Regardless, it was a positive note in a five-game stretch which has seen the team outscored 23-5 and the out-pour of support for Cuma has been great.

This is a whole new level of nervousness. Headed to Phoenix. Very excited
— Tyler Cuma (@TCuma61) March 8, 2012

From Aeros teammates Medvec, Jon DiSalvatore and Matt Hackett

@TCuma61 good luck. New definition of #roadwarrior right there
— Kyle Medvec (@kylemedvec) March 8, 2012

Goodluck @TCuma61 if you can handle crazy travel as good as chad Rau then we can expect a game winner out of you @Houston_Aeros #mnwiId
— Jon DISalvatore (@jondisalvatore) March 8, 2012

Congrats @TCuma61 on call up!
— Matt Hackett (@MattHackett31) March 8, 2012

However, it was not to be. Despite the Wild playing in "nearby" Phoenix, the 2008 first round pick was not able to get on a plane in time to make the game; the team will play against the Coyotes with 5 defensemen (that includes Foster, who played 8:17 in the 7-1 loss Tuesday).

Thank you everyone for the wishes! Unfortunately I was unable to make it out of Houston in time. Will not be in Phoenix tonight.
— Tyler Cuma (@TCuma61) March 8, 2012

And yet another moment of bad luck in Tyler Cuma's (and Minnesota Wild) history.

Remember you can follow all the Minnesota Wild prospects on Twitter in one place here. You can also follow First Round Bust (@FRBHockey) and its authors: Nate (@gopherstate), Dan (@shraderD), Tommy (@llamapalooza), Tim (@bozak911) and Jarick (@JarickL).