Dubinsky return, with less controversy than in Columbus

No. 17 raised some eyebrows last month when the Rangers visited Ohio, with his "shiny new toy" comments and questions about his former organization. Yesterday, as I re-tweeted from Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, Dubi clearly wants to make an impact at MSG. But his other remarks aren't quite as volatile and repeat some of his thoughts from earlier this year.

Anyway, from the Dispatch:

Asked about his reception on Broadway and the "rivalry"---“I don’t know,” Dubinsky said. “I think it’ll go good. I’m not terribly afraid. Most New York fans are good hockey fans and understnd the game and appreciate me for what I did for the team, the work ethic I tried to bring. It’s a blue-collar fan base. It wasn’t a situation where I signed somewhere else and I didn’t demand a trade. I was a piece that was going to Columbus for one of the top stars in the NHL.

“On paper it certainly has all the makings to be a rivalry. Four guys, five guys on each team. They’ve got a coach (assistant Scott Arniel). We’ve got a president (John Davidson). There’s a lot of connections there to make it a rivalry.  A lot of rivalries are built on serious animosity and dirty play and fights. I don’t see that happening, not that type of play. The rivalry is going to be more guys who want their vengaence against the other team. I’m going to go in there fired up tomorrow night, trying to show management that they made the wrong decision trading me and let them know – try to make them feel – like they wish they still had me. I think all of us feel that way. I talked to Gabby. He’s bummed for sure he doesn’t have the opportunity. Dorse and Nasher and Brass and Johnny Moore are feeling the same thing, like they want to stick it to us. That’s the type of rivalry it can be for sure.”

“I think it’s been really pretty good in Columbus. New York’s busy. Not that we were going out all the time, but the hustle and bustle, having to take taxis everwhere, not being able to just jump in your car and go do the things you want to do - things were a lot more complicated. Life has settled down a little bit. It always makes it easier when you come to the organization that takes a liking to you right away, makes you feel like you’re a big part of the team and gives you a big role with the team. Lets you play the game, even when you make mistakes. Play and play free. It’s a different atmosphere, for sure. Most of my time in New York, we always had a lot of older guys. I was one of the younger guys who came into the league there with (Ryan) Callahan and (Marc) Staal and those guys. I was looked at as a leader in New York, too, but It s a little bit different. I just felt like I learned a lot in my time in New York. (Chris) Drury, (Scott) Gomez (Markus) Naslund, (Brendan) Shanahan, all these guys who were not only big-time players, but leaders. I’ve only been in the league five, six years, but now I’m trying to help some of the young guys here in Columbus and pass some of that on. It’s the role I’ve tried to work on and take on here because, besides (Adrian AUcoin) last year we haven’t had that huge veteran presence and this is such a young team. It’s crazy.”