Brandon Dubinsky agreed to a six-year contract extension with Columbus.
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An old friend is staying put. Brandon Dubinsky signed a six-year extension with the Blue Jackets worth a reported $35.1 million. It also includes a no-trade clause. The deal keeps him in Columbus through 2020-21. Dubinsky was entering the final year of a contract with a cap hit of $4.2 million.

At 28, the former Ranger has become a key piece for the Jackets. After coming over with Artem Anisimov and Tim Erixon in the Rick Nash trade, Dubinsky has totaled 18 goals and 52 assists for 70 points in 105 games. During 2013-14, he tallied 16 goals and a career high 34 assists with four power play goals, two shorthanded goals and two game-winners. His 50 points ranked third in team scoring. It was his leadership and maturity that was on display in the postseason. In a hard fought first round series defeat, he registered a goal and five helpers against the Penguins while blanketing Sidney Crosby.

The style Dubinsky plays is similar to another ex-Ranger Ryan Callahan. The only difference is he’s bigger and stronger. At 6-2, 215 pounds, Dubinsky plays a physically grinding two-way game that makes him a fan favorite. For opponents, he’s a nuisance. He also doubles at center and takes faceoffs. He won 52.9 percent of draws. This is a player who can play in any key situation including power play and penalty kill.

Ironically, he brings all the intangibles Nash doesn’t. Even though that’s not a knock because Nash excelled in a PK role under Alain Vigneault. But his three goals during the Rangers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final is puzzling. That lack of production has turned a once thought no-brainer into a question mark. On the plus-side, Nash has led the Blueshirts in goals his first two seasons despite missing time due to concussions. The negative is his whopping $7.8 million cap hit which has another four years left through 2017-18. Obviously, he needs to produce more in the playoffs. It’s amazing they went as far as they did despite his lack of production.

With Columbus continuing to improve with the addition of Scott Hartnell, they should be a threat in the Metropolitan Division. There’s still one more hurdle. Leading scorer Ryan Johansen remains unsigned. The two sides aren’t close to reaching agreement. Johansen is a Group II free agent coming off a career season in which he led the Jackets in goals (33) and points (63) while adding two goals and four assists in the postseason. It’ll be interesting to see how long he holds out.

For now, the Jackets took care of Dubinsky guaranteeing he’ll stay. Cross another name off next year’s decreasing summer free agent list.