COLUMBUS, OHIO -- The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Brandon Dubinsky to a six-year contract extension through the 2020-21 National Hockey League season, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced Friday. As is club policy, further terms were not disclosed.
Dubinsky, 28, has registered 99 goals and 184 assists for 283 points with 631 penalty minutes and a cumulative plus/minus rating of +31 in 498 career NHL games, including 18-52-70, 174 PIM and a +7 plus/minus rating in 105 games during the past two seasons with the Blue Jackets. He has also tallied 8-15-23 and 52 PIM in 37 career postseason games after leading Columbus in assists and tying for second in points with 1-5-6 and six PIM in six games during the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"Brandon brings tenacity and determination to our team every time he takes the ice and he's been an integral part of our growth and success over the past two years," said Kekalainen. "Thanks to the commitment and support of our ownership group, we are excited that Brandon will continue to be an important part of the Blue Jackets family for many years to come."
In 2013-14, Dubinsky collected 16-34-50, 98 penalty minutes and was +5 in 76 games and led the Blue Jackets in penalty minutes and faceoff winning percentage (52.9 pct.). He set a new career high and ranked second on the club with 34 assists, hit the 50-point mark for the second time in his career, was tied for 10th in the NHL in shorthanded points (2-2-4) and ranked 13th in hits (234, second on Columbus). He notched 2-18-20 and 76 PIM in 29 games during the 2012-13 season, leading the Blue Jackets in points per game (0.69) and ranking second-T in assists, while standing fifth in the NHL with a team-best faceoff winning percentage of 58.3 pct.
Dubinsky was acquired by the Blue Jackets along with Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon and a first round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft (Kerby Rychel) from the New York Rangers in exchange for Rick Nash, Steven Delisle and a conditional third round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft on July 23, 2012. He registered 81-132-213 and 457 PIM in 393 games during his five-plus seasons in New York, setting career highs for goals and points with a team-leading 24-30-54 during the 2010-11 season.
The Rangers' sixth pick, 60th overall, in the 2004 NHL Draft, Dubinsky represented the United States at the 2008 and 2010 World Championships. The Anchorage, Alaska, native led Team USA in assists and points with 3-7-10 and two penalty minutes at the 2010 tournament. Prior to his professional career, he spent four seasons with the Western Hockey League's Portland Winterhawks and tallied 82-148-230 and 430 penalty minutes in 234 games from 2002-06. He was named to the WHL West Second All-Star Team in 2004 and 2006.
(Columbus Blue Jackets press release)
