Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sport
This season hasn’t been the greatest for Brandon Dubinsky. After he was acquired in the deal that sent Rick Nash to Broadway, the Columbus Blue Jackets haven’t had the opportunity to see Dubinsky at his best, as he’s been hampered by injuries throughout the year.
The injuries have been high in quantity for Dubinsky this year, and have varied from ‘knee’ to ‘lower-body’, to a wealth of other things. Which has limited his production. But as we close in on this final stretch, with the Blue Jackets in a position to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since the 2008-09 season, Dubinsky is stepping his game up.
Dubinsky’s goal-scoring hasn’t been there, but coming off of a season in which he only scored 10 times, no one was actually expecting him to return to his former 20-goal scoring ways. But he has managed to contribute in setting his teammates up, particularly of late.
On the season, Dubinsky has 18 points, 17 of which have come via the assist. A good chunk of his points have come since April started, when the Blue Jackets have needed him most. In the midst of a playoff race, exactly half of Dubinsky’s points have come just in this month.
He’s doing the things that have made him an asset for his time in the league as well, that don’t necessarily show up in the score. He’s playing the physical game when he has to, with 62 hits in 28 games, and is winning 58 percent of his draws on the year.
One would have to imagine that he’ll return to his goal-scoring ways maybe next year. Even 15-20 goals would benefit this team. A year to settle in and a year that isn’t hampered by injury will help him. But for now, the Blue Jackets are likely happy to see him contributing as much as he is down the stretch.
