Rangers Need To Keep Dubinsky

Earlier this week, the Dallas Morning News speculated that the Rangers could enter trade talks with the Dallas Stars for centerman Brad Richards, a former Tortorella favorite in Tampa Bay.  A Rangers fan reader emailed Mike Heika and asked him for his thoughts regarding a potential Brandon Dubinsky and Michal Rozsival swap for the talented center.

Dubinsky should remain in New York for a long time. (dogglb.com)

Heika mentions,

“But the Stars, I believe, have simply asked: Are we better with Rozsival on defense and Dubinsky as the No. 2 center or are we better with Brad Richards as our No. 2 center and the current defense? They have decided, I believe, they would be better with Richards as the No. 2 center and the current defense.”

Sure, the 29-year old Richards is a bona fide power play center with big game experience, but I think the Rangers would be better off holding onto the 23-year old Dubinsky and seeing how well he produces as he enters his third NHL season.  Dubinsky was one of the team’s brightest rising stars, other than Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal, during their brief playoff foray last season.

The Rangers would be best served sticking with their talented young centers in Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov, and spending the rest of their change on another top flight scorer.