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Columbus Blue Jackets’ Brandon Dubinsky sent home from road trip due to ‘personal issues’

The 31-year-old hasn’t seen the ice since being injured in a fight on December 12.

By Mary Clarke Updated

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NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at Minnesota Wild Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Dubinsky has left the Blue Jackets’ road trip and has been sent back to Columbus to deal with personal issues. According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Dubinsky has left the trip to get a handle on “personal issues that have hampered his season and could threaten his career.”

The Blue Jackets have spent the last few days out in Las Vegas getting ready for their Wednesday night game against the Golden Knights. In the report from Portzline, Dubinsky is not in trouble with the police. Instead, Dubinsky’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, told The Athletic he was being sent home to get a medical evaluation.

“He was sent home for medical diagnosis,” Overhardt said. “He’s had several injuries this season. The club and my client decided that this was best. There are several issues we’ve been dealing with behind the scenes to get him healthy.”

Dubinsky has been in and out of the Blue Jackets’ lineup this season. In December, the 31-year-old fractured his orbital bone during a fight in an injury that was slated to keep Dubinsky out of the lineup for six to eight weeks. The center was likely traveling with the team so he could continue practicing, despite not having played since that Dec. 12 game against Edmonton.

Portzline also disputed the rumor Dubinsky was leaving the team to seek treatment for his eye, as The Athletic reported has stated that that statement is “not accurate.”

Dubinsky was disciplined by the team earlier in the season. In October, his alternate captain’s “A” was stripped by head coach John Tortorella after his play struggled to open the season, though the team insisted the forward was still a leader in the locker room.

This season, Dubinsky has 12 points in 31 games played with just three goals during that time span. Those numbers are a far cry from his previous season, where he posted 41 points during a healthy year.