When the Columbus Blue Jackets went about the awkward task of looking at the possibility of trading Rick Nash, they knew they would have to do their best to hit a home run.
It wouldn't be easy. After all, the NHL's 29 other teams knew the Jackets weren't dealing from a position of strength.
When the deal was finally made, there were four key pieces: one draft pick and three players. Among the players were skilled young defenseman Tim Erixon, talented Russian Artem Anisimov and a gritty centerman named Brandon Dubinsky.
Fast-forward and Anisimov and Erixon are gone. The draft pick? Gone too, as Kerby Rychel was chosen and then dealt. Dubinsky is the piece that remains, and he has developed into a dependable member of the Blue Jackets organization. He also provided one of the top moments in franchise history with his late goal in Game 3 of the 2014 playoffs. Maybe that trade worked out after all.
What did we expect?
A typical Dubinsky season. What did that mean? A goal total in the upper teens and a point total around 50 in 18 minutes per game. A fair amount of physical play, resulting in about a penalty minute per game. A positive faceoff percentage. A lot of defensive zone starts.
Oh, and Meyers Jewelers commercials. Definitely Meyers Jewelers commercials.
What did we get?
Let's go back to what we expected
A goal total in the upper teens and a point total around 50 in 18 minutes per game? Dubinsky played 17:54 per game and scored 12 goals among 41 points.
A fair amount of physical play, resulting in about a penalty minute per game? How about 91 penalty minutes in 80 games?
A positive faceoff percentage? Dubinsky won 51.7 percent of his draws this season
A lot of defensive zone starts? Dubinsky's even-strength mark went up to 58.2 percent this year with the neutral zone draws taken out, a high for his CBJ career.
In other words, he was basically Brandon Dubinsky, with a few small changes. Head coach John Tortorella leaned on Dubinsky in a defensive role this year, resulting in his first negative even-strength Corsi and Fenwick marks in union blue. It also probably pushed his scoring total down a bit, though it is fair to wonder how his physical, heavy game will age on the offensive end now that he's reached age 31.
But for the time being, Brandon Dubinsky is still Brandon Dubinsky, and that fills a key role for the Blue Jackets.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | SHP | GWG | OTG | S | S% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REGULAR SEASON | 80 | 12 | 29 | 41 | 16 | 91 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 115 | 10.4 |
| PLAYOFFS | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12.5 |
Memorable Moment
We could pen some flowery prose about Dubinsky here, but let's just keep it simple. Game-winning goal. Pittsburgh. Nationwide Arena. Overtime. What more is there? Take it away, Johnny.
Contract Status
According to CapFriendly.com, Dubinsky joins a core of Blue Jackets locked up through at least 2020-21 along with Brandon Saad, Nick Foligno, Seth Jones and David Savard. Over the next four seasons, Dubinsky will have a cap hit of $5.85 million.
| GRADE | B |
