Dubinsky loses ‘A’ but will still provide leadership
Coach John Tortorella says a hockey player doesn’t need a letter on the front of his sweater to be a leader.
Brandon Dubinsky doesn’t have an “A” on the front of his anymore and says that is not going to change the kind of guy he is in the Blue Jackets’ locker room.
Tortorella made a change to the official leadership structure within the Blue Jackets before Wednesday’s win over Buffalo. Dubinsky, an assistant captain the past five seasons, was replaced by Jack Johnson.
Tortorella stressed the change was made to solely help get Dubinsky’s game on track. Tortorella also said he’s not big on rotating assistant captains — Boone Jenner is the other under captain Nick Foligno — and the change is not temporary.
“We’ve been through a lot together — good and bad,” Tortorella said Thursday. “I think it’s for the good of him. Dubinsky is going to lead; he’s a leader. Not through his mouth but through his play. People follow him for his play, and we need more of his play to do the speaking than worrying about a letter on his chest.”
Dubinsky, who had wrist surgery in the offseason, is the first to admit he hasn’t played up to his high expectations.
Coming into Wednesday’s game, he had no goals and one assist through eight games. He doubled his point total Wednesday by assisting on Seth Jones’ second-period goal.
“It doesn’t change anything for me. It doesn’t change who I am, the leadership I bring to the team,” Dubinsky said. “My game hasn’t been where I want it to be, so I need some time to focus on bringing my game back to where it needs to be and where this team needs it to be.”
As for Johnson, being an official part of a leadership group is nothing new. He was an assistant captain with the Jackets until Jenner got it a few seasons ago.
“When they do things like that, they do it because of who you are,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t change anything for me.”
Dubois staying
Rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois is staying put.
The Blue Jackets had the option of sending Dubois back to his junior team before he played in his 10th game without having a contract year kick into effect.
Dubois, 19, who played his ninth game Wednesday, was told he’s staying with the Jackets.
“It’s really good now that I don’t have to think about it anymore,” he said Thursday. “It’s not like I thought about it every day, but now I can just play hockey and be part of this team.”
Dubois is playing on the fourth line with Sonny Milano and Zac Dalpe.
Line dance
Tortorella did more mixing and matching with his forward lines after a slow start Wednesday, and his changes helped spark a three-goal second period and a 5-1 win over the Sabres.
Josh Anderson was moved up to the top line with Artemi Panarin and Foligno; Cam Atkinson is with Jenner and Dubinsky.
“Things look good on paper but sometimes it just doesn’t work on the ice,” Tortorella said. “I like the way it settled; I thought we changed the lines and changed our game. As always, I’m going to watch it and try to stay with it. But I’m not going to be a coach who watches it die on the vine.”