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Brooks: Rangers Squeezing Dubinsky

by Adam Rotter on September 4th, 2009 at 8:29 am

Larry Brooks, of the New York Post, has an “update” on the on-going contract situation between RFA Brandon Dubinsky and the Rangers.

Brooks notes that Dubinsky’s qualifying offer isn’t the $698,000 that he originally report, but a two-way deal worth $522,500/$60,000.

The $60,000, Dubinsky’s minor league salary is almost irrelevenat, as Brooks notes that Dubi would have to pass through waivers to even reach the minor leagues.

Brooks  writes that, Dubi has his one year qualifying offer on the table from the Rangers but he also notes that Dubi has deals worth between two and five years on the table also.

The problem for Dubinsky is that he is eligible for salary arbitration next season and could make more money by taking the Rangers to arbitration or working a deal when he has more leverage, then the possible salaries the Rangers are offering him now.

“We’ve had a number of positive and amicable discussions with the Rangers and we’ll continue to work at it,” Kurt Overhardt, Dubinsky’s agent, told The Post yesterday. “Neither Brandon nor I have any interest in attempting to negotiate this through the newspaper, so we’ll keep the conversations private.

…This is a very interesting situation that Brooks lays out. Yes, Dubi can get a long term deal from the Rangers, possibily up to five years, but he is no doubt sacrificing money as he probably wouldn’t get over $2 million a year from that deal, where as a big year from Dubi going into arbitration and he can set a higher number for himself.

It would be great for the Rangers for Dubi to lock himself up in a five year deal worth $10 million, but for Dubi himself, he could make more money going to arbitration.

So, in the end, Dubi will probably accept his qualifying offer for $522,500 and play the season under that. Hopefully, he brings his best game to play with Marian Gaborik and the Rangers give him his big deal next summer.
  • waynefromwestbury

    Interesting scenario indeed. I’ve got to side a bit with the Ranger organization on this one. Even though Dubi is a favorite of mine and most Ranger fans simply because of the energy he brings, he has got to become a consistent goal scoring threat before he commands top dollars. Last year at the start of the season I thought Dubi could and would score 30 goals. But after a few quick productive weeks he dropped off the face of the earth and couldn’t score a goal if his life depended on it! So naturally the team wants to see a consistent trend over a full season before committing big money to him in the era of the dreaded cap. I don’t believe in the cap at all. This is America and there should be at least a luxury tax arrangement just like we see in baseball. Any team that can’t compete should be out of the league. What are we running a charity benefit for those owners who can just barely pay the bills if that even!! In my opinion if Dolan has the cash and wants to spend it the league should not be able to tell him he can’t do so. Sounds a bit Communist to me. Anyway Dubi if you want the cash put 30 in the net with 60-70 points total. Damn if Scott Hartnell can do it so can Dubi. The season can’t begin soon enough for me. LETS GO RANGERS!

    • MarianGaborik10

      with that bs line of reasoning, don’t be upset if there are fewer and fewer teams in the league. i’m all for contracting the unnecessary teams but just becaise you spend the most, it doesn’t guarantee a cup. just look at the rangers post ’94 and pre-cap. there’s nothing communist about a cap. that’s not even what communism is.

      as long as dubi has a big year, he has nothing to worry about.

  • TKACZUK

    Isn’t this the classic risk/reward scenario ? The player can get a long-term guaranteed contract at a lesser amount or roll the dice and hope that they have a great year and can get a greater amount long-term. Considering the injury possibilities in a sport like hockey, he might want to consider some financial security (knee injuries, concussions, etc. are a distinct possibility)…..if he signs a long term contract for a lesser amount and plays well and stays healthy, he’ll have the opportunity to sign another contract in his late 20s……