Isles become front-runners for Tavares

by James Mirtle on Oct 11, 2008 1:27 PM CDT Comment 11 comments

The New York Islanders received some unwanted news just one game into the new season as the team learned that goaltender Rick DiPietro has swelling and fluid around his surgically repaired left knee.

DiPietro, who has been plagued by knee injuries throughout his career, underwent meniscus surgery in June and played in only one of the Islanders pre-season games.
— TSN.ca

The Islanders are playing this off as a precautionary measure, but I'm not so sure. When there's swelling and fluid after surgery, it could be an indication of a more serious issue and it's not out of the question that DiPietro battles this all season.

Or for the rest of his career.

DiPietro's 27 years old, older than you might think, and has an incredible 13 years left on his current contract at $4.5-million a season. He will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2021, when he's a few months from turning 40.

I'm not so sure he'll make it that long — and there are $54-million to be paid out beyond this season.

You also cannot buy out the contract of an injured player.

UPDATE Here's what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had to say about the DiPietro contract when it was signed a few years back: "My reaction is two-fold. One, and I'm on record saying this long before this contract, namely I think under the type of system we have, it's generally more prudent to enter into shorter-term contracts than longer-term contracts ... because under our collective bargaining agreement, there is no ability to renegotiate a contract ... With respect to this particular contract, only time will tell whether or not it was a wise move or a less-than-wise move."

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And the undefeated Leafs are going to win the cup too, right?

by Kevin on Oct 11, 2008 2:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the Islanders were probably front runners anyway, or at least in the lead group.

Also, this contract will likely span 2 or 3 more CBA's, possibly starting with a new one starting next season. We have no idea how that might effect these long term contracts.

by David Johnson on Oct 11, 2008 3:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So is it too soon for the Drumheller Miners to completely panic?

by Doogie2K on Oct 11, 2008 4:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of the prescient Bettman, anybody else notice that Gary himself rang the opening bell at the NYSE last week on one of the worst days in US stock market history?

He'll probably get booed for that too at some point soon.

by JoBu on Oct 11, 2008 9:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LTI would be a gift for Isles. DiPietro's salary off the books and that's it.

Too many are worried about owner's money when the only thing that matters is cap hit. Who cares if owner has to pay somebody 20, 30, 50 or 100 million. None of our business.

Are you worried that Isles' owner just paid 50 million for a new private jet? Nope. Cap rules.

by Anonymous on Oct 11, 2008 9:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Isles just smoked the Blues tonight...with Joey Mac in net. I'd give St. Louis the edge on the Tavares Sweepstakes.

by murph on Oct 11, 2008 10:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

MacDonald's been very good. Good for him.

by James Mirtle on Oct 11, 2008 11:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Food for thought:

"That story was completely untrue. I don’t know where they got it from."
- Rick DiPietro in the lockerroom tonight.

by B.D. Gallof on Oct 11, 2008 11:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Too many are worried about owner's money when the only thing that matters is cap hit. Who cares if owner has to pay somebody 20, 30, 50 or 100 million. None of our business.

Wrong. Those owners come cap in hand to taxpayers, pleading poverty, wanting working shmoes to pay for new playpens for their overpayed, spoiled millionaire employees. So, with all due respect, it is my business.

by Anonymous on Oct 12, 2008 10:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tavares sweepstakes? Haven't you got the memo? It's the Hedman sweepstakes now.

by saskhab on Oct 13, 2008 1:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually saskhab, it's neither. As of right now, both Tavares and Hedman are so skilled that most of the top draft ranking pages are switching them constantly between 1 and 2. The way I see it playing out, it'll be the no. 1 picking team's choice as to who goes first. If it is the Islanders, though, I can't imagine they would take Hedman over Tavares. They severely need offensive prospects, and it's much easier to find defensive players in the second and third rounds as well as the first round. Plus, the Islanders would have a reasonably strong blue-line if it just stayed healthy, and prospects Jack Hillen and Dustin Kohn look pretty good for the future.

by Brooklyn Hockey Boy on Oct 13, 2008 11:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs