What It Should Cost To Lock Up Dubinsky

During the break-up day interviews at the Training Center, Brandon Dubinsky revealed that he wanted to get his new deal done sooner rather than later. Last time around Dubinsky’s negotiations stretched all the way into September, frustrating the young Alaskan and bewildering most of the Rangers fanbase. Dubinsky told the NY Media, “I want them, they want me…Let’s not waste each other’s time.” And really, can you blame him for feeling that way?

Of course such things are easier said than done, so we figured we would help Dubinsky out and breakdown what we think he’s worth based on a few comparables.

Fortunately for Brandon, his breakout season (24g/54pts) came at just the right time. More important than his stats though, was the quality of ice time he had been getting. He was used in every situation and was the go-to-guy down the stretch when Ryan Callahan went down and Gaborik failed to step up.

Dubinsky is eligible for arbitration and is two years away from Group III status (aka unrestricted free agency). Pending on how many Group III years Sather buys up, will obviously determine his cap hit, but I would expect him to get a four year deal around $13-16 million (or around $3.5M per).

Ironically enough, Dubinsky is represented by Kurt Overhardt, who also represents Travis Zajac. Coming off three years experience with similar stats, Zajac got a 4 year $15.5 million contract (or a $3.88M cap hit) in 2009. David Krejci also received a similar contract ($3.7M per) from the Bruins, despite having less experience and more points upon his signing. I would expect Dubinsky to garner about the same amount, again pending the years.

Also, if I’m Sather, I don’t want to have to resign both Dubinsky and Callahan during the same offseason again, so I would expect them to have different contract lengths, similar to what Sather did with Girardi and Staal last summer. Never the less, both players should end up being offered around the same money, give or a take a few hundred thousand.