Blue Jackets extend Dubinsky: 'It’ll be a nice opportunity to find a house and settle down for a while'

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky is tired of living in condos.

With six years and over $35 million committed to him in a contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he certainly has a reason to go house-hunting.

Dubinsky described the extension as a "huge honor" in an interview with Columbus Dispatch reporter Aaron Portzline.

It’s nice to get that stability. Living in New York and even living here, I’ve been living in a condo for nine years. It’ll be a nice opportunity to find a house and settle down for a while, not have to worry about anything other than focusing on my family and coming to the rink, trying to help this team win.

Dubinsky, who was on his way to unrestricted free agency at the end of next season, also has the added stability of a no-trade clause. He is expected to be a leader for Columbus' young players - a challenge he relishes.

I still have a lot of learning to do. The on-ice stuff is the easy part for me. Soemtimes it’s the off-ice that you have to continue to work on, continue to learn when to do or say the right thing, how to challenge guys properly and how to pick guys up with they’re down.

Dubinsky points to players like Jaromir Jagr, Chris Drury and Markus Naslund as leaders who taught him a lot when he was still new to the NHL. He believes in the direction of the Blue Jackets under general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and is very thankful to be a part of it.

"I need to thank the ownership here, because that's a big financial committment to me and my family," Dubinsky said. "I appreciate it."