Did The Columbus Blue Jackets Overpay Dubinsky?
By Clint Linn
The Columbus Blue Jackets have overpaid before, however I feel like they are past the point where they have to overpay for a player, especially one who is already on the team. The Columbus Blue Jackets signed Brandon Dubinsky to a 6 year extension worth $35.1 million dollars, locking up another brick and ensuring “one” of its leaders in the locker room is here for a while. The annual cap hit will be $5.85 million a year, my first two thoughts when hearing about the signing were “awesome, we locked up Dubi” and “$5.85 million a year, that seems like a lot”.
Apr 3, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky (17) celebrates his goal against Philadelphia Flyers defenseman
Kimmo Timonen(44) and goalie
Steve Mason(35) during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Blue Jackets defeated the Flyers, 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
I love the idea of Dubinsky being here long-term, but I imagined him making closer to $5 million a year, which is less than a million away from what he received. $850,000 dollars can add up quickly however if it happens with 3 or more players. It’s not going to get you enough room to sign say a Dubinsky, but it could come in handy with depth acquisitions that every team needs to get through the grind of an NHL season. Dubi is coming off a 16 goal, 34 assist season, giving him his highest point production since 2010-2011 with the New York Rangers. He also shut down Sidney Crosby in the playoffs, arguably the best player in the world for 6 games, only allowing him to have 5 assists in the 6 game series.
Another thing, this is going to throw a monkey wrench into the negotiations with one Ryan Johansen. Johansen was already upset with the Columbus Blue Jackets first attempts at a contract extension, which I figure were in the 2 years $6.5 million range. He is going to look at Dubi’s extension and question why he isn’t being offered at least $7.5 million a year, he doubled Dubi’s goal production from a year ago and contributed almost the same amount of assists(4 less). This will give Johansen a sticking point as to what he “deserves”, whether or not he deserves $7.5 million a year after one breakout season or not, Dubi’s contract will definitely be something Johansen can use in negotiating.
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Brandon Dubinsky is going to be the 2nd line center, and a 2nd line center should be making anywhere from $5-6 million a year. I really hope Brandon can get to a point where he can produce 20 goals and 40 assists every year, that would definitely warrant his contract. In the realm of everything in this day and age of the NHL, this contract looks like a fair deal for both sides. Do I wish he would have taken $5 million a year, yes, but I am also being a fan first who wishes every player would take less to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The real thing to concentrate on is, we have another center piece looked up long-term and the future of this team is looking better and better. I don’t like wishing away the summer, but I can’t wait for the season to start, to see what this team is going to look like in the fall and to see if they can top last year’s run.