For months now, Rangers fans have anticipated a multi-year deal to be locked and loaded with our home-grown Brandon Dubinsky -- though despite his PIMs of last year, he could be one of the most awkward fighters in the league -- but most important, this guy wears his heart on his sleeve and we have watched it dangling for two seasons now. I remember the young kid under former NYR coach Tom Renney centering Jaromir Jagr adding points to every game, Jagr the proud Papa and his newly found hockey pup. Brandon represents to us what we expect of all our Rangers: Aggressive. Caring. Loyal.But hang on folks...
As a restricted free agent this season, we have waited for the contract that never came, even after Brandon's reassurances to the media and fans two weeks ago that the deal would be made and things would be worked out. Being given another shot at centering a world-class sharp-shooter, this time under the tutelage of the Torts system and our newly minted Blueshirt star-power Marian Gaborik, we had expectations of a much larger Brandon Dubinsky - and even a product of the new New York Rangers youth movement. And so....the promises....the doubt....the reassurances.....belief again..on again....off again.....but still no contract.
If you are a stranger to the off-season, we are now back in-season as today was the first day of training camp for the Blueshirts, where young'ens got to challenge the veterans for the limited number of spots on the third and fourth lines for opening night - Oct. 1 against the Penguins and the first home game Oct. 2 against the Senators (without the Heat). And guess who didn't show up? Our very own 1. Aggressive 2. Caring and 3. Loyal, Brandon Dubinsky.
After two days of last minute sitdowns with NYR General Manager, Glen Sather and Brandon Dubinsky & 'His Agent', things went sour and no contract or agreement came to pass. Where he has the option to take a minimal salary, prove himself for one more season, and go to town with a multi-year and 'hog-money' contract, he (and his agent) are choosing to bend the Blueshirt organization back 'n forth. Perhaps Henrik Lundqvist's one-year contract with the Rangers, followed by his six-year re-signing would be good precedent in the Sather Caves.....obviously, Agent Dubie has something else in mind and now it's affecting the team.
This is what our coach John Tortorella, who has been quiet about these affairs until now, had to say about this situation:
“It’s stupid, “ the Rangers head coach said after 50-plus players went through a series of medical tests and wind sprints. “He’s a young man that needs to be here. I think a player needs to be with his teammates. I’m hoping he realizes that. I think his agent’s stupid….I think Dubi understands my feelings. I thought Glen (Sather) was very honest with Dubi a couple days ago---I was privy to that conversation---as a general manager and man-to-man as a friend.”
So now the Coach feels like the fans. He may be signed one minute after this posting, but I wanted to get the message out there that we all feel Brandon's agent is misguiding him and setting a very bad precedent for his future career as a professional hockey player. And ultimately, this is Dubinsky letting this happen.
...and all of this makes him look like a sore loser. Not quite Dany Heatley, but something related. Not what we had in mind from our young hopefuls, 'Dubie'.
tdr
