Rangers, Dubinsky agree to new deal

Brandon Dubinsky, who led the Rangers in scoring last season, has accepted a four-year, $16.8-million deal, his agent confirmed. Dubinsky barely avoided an arbitration hearing Thursday morning that would have resulted in a one-year contract.

The terms are $3.75 million for the first two years and $4.65 million for the final two seasons, a contract that counts $4.2 million against the salary cap annually.

Dubinsky, 25, a restricted free agent, was seeking more than $4 million per season. Depending on the new collective-bargaining agreement, he could be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the deal. The current labor agreement was extended through the 2011-12 season.

Dubinsky, a candidate for the left side of the No. 1 line with Marian Gaborik and newly acquired center Brad Richards, said in April, "I'd like to get it done as quickly as possible. I think the Rangers want me and I want the Rangers. So at the end of the day, we may as well not waste each other's time."

Last season, his fourth full year with the Rangers, he recorded career highs with 24 goals and 54 points in 77 games. He was 20-24-44 in 69 games in 2009-10 and 13-28-41 in 82 games in 2008-09.

In September 2009, Dubinsky missed eight days of training camp before agreeing to a two-year, $3.7-million deal. Coach John Tortorella was unhappy about the holdout. Asked what he expected, he responded: "We're not paying him a million-eight to check."

Dubinsky, linemate Ryan Callahan, defenseman Michael Sauer and center Brian Boyle filed for arbitration July 5. Sauer and Boyle also avoided hearings by agreeing to deals. Unless Callahan signs, a strong possibility, his hearing is scheduled for next Thursday. He is expected to receive about the same money as Dubinsky, which will significantly tighten the Rangers' flexibility under the salary cap.

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