Dubinsky didn’t take summer off, and it shows
The day after the Blue Jackets were ousted from the playoffs in April, Brandon Dubinsky vowed to use his offseason wisely.
After finishing with a career-low six goals and 16 points, playing only 62 games because of a broken eye socket, the 32-year old center made a vow.
“It’s tough, it hurts, but I’m resilient,” he said. “I still believe in myself and I know I have a long summer to put in the work and get myself back to where I need to be — to be the player that I know I can be.”
After two games, he looks like that kind of player again.
Centering the Jackets’ most effective line, he already has two points on a goal and assist — or 12.5 percent of his total for the entire 2017-18 season.
“I think he was embarrassed from last year and he’s a proud guy,” coach John Tortorella said. “We all know he’s a proud guy, and I think he (had) a different type of motivation during the summertime. He kept his mouth shut, stayed away from (Nationwide Arena), did his own stuff and came in in great shape. I think he’s Brandon Dubinsky, celebrating his goal against the Red Wings on Thursday, is determined to put last year’s subpar, injury-plagued season behind him.
trying to make a point here.”
Dubinsky’s offseason included workouts with a personal trainer in Hilliard, in a gym set up inside a barn. He also skated hard, rehabbed a surgically repaired wrist that bothered him all of last season and made dietary changes.
“You could just tell as soon as you saw him,” said forward Josh Anderson, who has
started the first two games as Dubinsky’s right wing. “He looked leaner and skinnier, and faster, too, in the drills and just in skating. It’s something he wanted to change. He knows that he needs a big year, and so do the rest of us, so it’s a good combination.”
It will also make Dubinsky’s $5.8 million salary-cap hit easier to swallow if it continues, especially
since his contract runs through the 2020-21 season. Getting a full rebound out of him would be quite a boost for the Jackets, who could use the added center depth.
It has only been two games, but Dubinsky and his line — which includes Anderson and Boone Jenner — have already gotten the coach’s attention.
“They were our top line (in Detroit),” Tortorella said. “I thought ‘Andy’ was probably our best player, with those two guys right in behind him. (Other lines) were a little bit too cute, playing on the outside. We generated some shots, but I think we can go to school a little bit on how Dubi’s line played.”
School was back in session Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Jackets’ 3-1 loss in their home opener. Tortorella shook up the line combinations in the third period, hoping to spark something, but Dubinsky’s group was again the most effective during the first two periods.
Despite starting in the defensive zone about 70 percent of the time, they had the puck more than they chased it.
Dubinsky also tied the score at 1 and nearly scored a second goal that would have tied it again, had the play not been whistled dead. He’s also off to a great start taking faceoffs, winning 68.8 percent of 32 draws.
“If he can get back to his old style, we know that he can be a great player and is a great player,” Anderson said. “He just has to keep working hard, and hopefully we can all help each other out.”