The Columbus Blue Jackets (-0.33 nERD) have been struck by the injury bug this year.
At the moment, they have seven players on the inactive list, including Nathan Horton, whose career may be over with a degenerative back injury and defenseman Fedor Tyutin. They just reactivated starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky Tuesday in time for a 5-0 loss to the Red Wings (0.03).
However, there may be relief on the horizon: Brandon Dubinsky (abdominal surgery) has been practicing with the team and is on the cusp on returning to game action. Presently, he is owned in 60% of Yahoo! fantasy hockey leagues; if he is available in yours, prepare to add him as soon as he is activated or stash him on your injured reserved or bench.
Dubinsky is a second-tier scorer who has put up 0.57 points per game over the course of his eight-year NHL career. Although, his real fantasy hockey value lies in accumulating penalty minutes and hits, Dubinsky is a true all-around player and a gem in fantasy hockey for being able to contribute in multiple categories.
| Season | Games | Goals | Assists | Points/Game | PIM | Hits* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 82 | 14 | 26 | 0.49 | 79 | - |
| 2008-09 | 82 | 13 | 28 | 0.50 | 112 | - |
| 2009-10 | 69 | 20 | 24 | 0.64 | 54 | 129 |
| 2010-11 | 77 | 24 | 30 | 0.70 | 100 | 141 |
| 2011-12 | 77 | 10 | 24 | 0.44 | 110 | 207 |
| 2012-13 | 29 | 2 | 18 | 0.69 | 76 | 64 |
| 2013-14 | 76 | 16 | 34 | 0.66 | 98 | 234 |
Dubinsky is a "should own" in standard leagues and a "must own" in leagues that counts hits. Be proactive and get him onto your roster.