Who Didn't See That Coming?

"After extensive consultation we feel this decision is in the best interest for Rick and the team. This will allow Rick ample time to make a full recovery for next year". -Garth Snow

While many fans and insiders felt that this was coming, it still felt like being punched in the gut. With all the injury issues the Isles have faced this year, this one has to be the most devastating. The New York Islanders' franchise goaltender, Rick DiPietro is out for the year.

Injuries are nothing new for DiPietro. Every Islander fan remembers on March 13, 2007, when Ricky went out to play the puck and collided with Montreal Canadien Steve Begin. Dipietro was diagnosed with a concussion, but played four games later. It wasn't until a game against the New York Rangers, where he recieved a second concussion and was set down for the rest of the regular season. This was not the end of DiPietro's injury issues, however. During the 2007 offseason, he had surgury to fox a torn labrum in his hip.


After the surgury, it appeared as if he was good to go. However, during the 2008 All-Star game skills competition, which he took place in, he was heard saying during the game "ow, my (expletive) hip". This injury would not keep him out though. It wasn't until the Isles were eliminated from playoff contention that DiPietro announced that he was to have surgury to repair his damaged hip.

And now there's the most recent injury. DiPietro had surgury to repair his left meniscus during the summer fo 2008, a surgury which has led him to play only five games during the year before being officially shut down yesterday.

What does this mean for the organization? DiPietro, having signed a 15 year, $67.5 million contract in 2006, has the longest contract in NHL history. Already showing that he may have serious injury problems for the rest of his career, what do the Islanders do? Should they show good faith and stick with DiPietro, or should they play it safe, and via the draft or free agency pick up a backup plan? I think it's clear that current DiPietro backup Joey MacDonald isn't the answer, as he has looked shaky at many points as DiPietro's replacement.

The Islanders have a lot on their plate. Add up being dead last in points in the NHL, regular low attendance at the Nassau Coliseum, and the threat of a potenial move off of Long Island, the last thing they needed to worry about was Rick DiPietro's health over the next 13 years.