It’s unlikely that Columbus Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky will ever play professional hockey again, according to team general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. Dubinsky missed the entire 2019–20 season with a wrist injury that is a chronic condition.
#CBJ GM Jarmo Kekalainen said that C Brandon Dubinsky “most likely” won’t be able to play again because of his chronic wrist injury. Not a surprise, really, but straight from the GM.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 21, 2020
Brandon Dubinsky Unlikely to Return to NHL
Although Dubinsky missed the entire 2019–20 season, there was still hope he would again suit up for the Blue Jackets. Dubinsky will now likely finish with 438 points in 823 games over 13 seasons. He was originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the second round of the 2004 NHL Draft.
In 2012 the Rangers sent over Dubinsky along with Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon, and a first-round draft pick in 2013 to Columbus in a blockbuster trade for Rick Nash. In his first full season in Columbus, Dubinsky recorded a career-high 50 points. Dubinsky spent time as an assistant captain for the Blue Jackets before losing his letter in the 2017–18 season.
Dubinsky has one year remaining on a six-year contract signed with Columbus back in 2014, so he will most likely spend next season on the Blue Jackets’ long term injured reserve before retiring.
The Blue Jackets battled through the losses of Dubinsky, Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene, and Ryan Dzingel this past season, still earning a playoff spot. Columbus lost in five games to the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday. The first-round exit was much better than many had Columbus faring as head coach John Tortorella has a bright young core to work with.
Main photo:
