"The Rangers have elected to go for a one-year salary award in today's arbitration hearing in Toronto with Brandon Dubinsky, The Post has learned.

Sources with knowledge of the briefs submitted on behalf of the 25-year-old winger and on behalf of the club have told The Post that Dubinsky has requested a contract worth $4.6 million while the Rangers have come in at $2.8 million.

While the gulf appears exceptionally wide, Elizabeth Neumeier, the arbitrator presiding over the case, is empowered to select any figure between the parties' requests. As such, the disparity in the submissions should not ring any alarm bells, given that they are strategic rather than necessarily reasonable.

Both sides expect Dubinsky, who will still owe one more season to the Rangers as a restricted free agent at the conclusion of this year, to gain an arbitration-directed salary of between $3.8 million and $4.4 million.

Regardless of the conclusion, which could be announced as early as tomorrow but likely will not come until Monday, the Rangers have no intention of walking away from the settlement figure.

Dubinsky led the club in goals, assists and points (24-30-54), establishing career highs in each category while working on the final year of a two-year deal under which he earned an average of $1.875 million per season. He will attend today's hearing."