Brandon Dubinsky’s name still carries a certain edge in Columbus. The former Blue Jackets center signed what would be his final NHL contract on this day in 2014, a six-year deal that was set to keep him in Columbus through 2021.
Dubinsky, drafted 60th overall in 2004 out of Anchorage, Alaska, made his mark with a style that never backed down. He played with a hard-nosed approach, never shying away from scrums and often leaning into the kind of chaos that made him such a frustrating opponent. Sidney Crosby was a frequent target of that energy, and Dubinsky kept coming at him even when the needle never quite moved.
For Blue Jackets fans, though, one moment stands above the rest. In the first round of the 2014 playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus trailed 3-2 in the game and 2-1 in the series when Marc-Andre Fleury tried to handle the puck behind his net.
Ryan Johansen stripped it from behind the cage and sent it into the middle of the ice, where Dubinsky was waiting. He settled it on his stick and fired it through two defenders and a diving Fleury.
The goal sent Nationwide Arena into a frenzy, and Columbus went on to win the game in overtime.
Dubinsky’s career ended sooner than expected after the 2018-19 season because of what was described as a “chronic condition” in his wrist. Even so, he left a clear imprint on the franchise. He finished his Blue Jackets career with 72-153-225, and his faceoff percentage was above 50% every season he played in the NHL.
His final regular-season game came on April 6, 2019. Then, a month later, after helping Columbus knock out the Tampa Bay Lightning, he played his last playoff game against the Boston Bruins.
These days, Dubinsky can still be spotted around CBJ games sitting in the crowd. He also works as a partner with JBM Development, a construction company that focuses on developing and managing multi-family housing in Columbus.
Today we salute you, Brandon Dubinsky.