Why Brandon Dubinsky Didn’t Make Team USA’s Olympic Roster
By Mark Huss
Linesman Andy McElman (90) escorts Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky (17)
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
If I was David Poile, General Manager of Team USA for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, I wouldn’t have picked Brandon Dubinsky for Team USA either, and here is why…
Sixty-eight penalty minutes, two major penalties, two game misconducts, and one misconduct penalty. As much as you may want a player to play with some emotion, too much emotion can be costly – and Dubinsky may have been marked as a risk due to his high emotions.
The Winter Olympics are an important international stage for hockey, and we will most likely see some of the best hockey played all year within the short time in February. It makes complete sense that you would not want a player who leads their team in penalty minutes instead of points.
Stats Of Dubinsky:
- 34 Games Played
- 7 Goals
- 18 Assists
- 25 Points
- 68 PIM
Stats Of The Four Centers Chosen:
Joe Pavelski (8)
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
- 40 Games Played
- 16 Goals
- 21 Assists
- 37 Points
- 18 PIM
- 35 Games Played
- 16 Goals
- 14 Assists
- 30 Points
- 70 PIM
- 42 Games Played
- 15 Goals
- 12 Assists
- 27 Points
- 36 PIM
- 37 Games Played
- 11 Goals
- 14 Assists
- 25 Points
- 14 PIM
With the exception of Backes, each center has less penalties in minutes than Dubinsky – Pavelski, Kesler, and Stastny actually have a combined 68 PIM, which is equal to Dubinsky’s. In defense of Backes, none of his penalty minutes are majors, and he has zero game misconducts.
In short, Dubinsky’s emotions could have got the best of him again, but on the bright side, he may begin to play with a chip on his shoulder for the other red, white, and blue.