In the surest sign yet that the Islanders might be close to shutting down goaltender Rick DiPietro for the season after just five starts, general manager Garth Snow said the team has held exploratory talks with the agent for former Isles goaltender Wade Dubielewicz, who recently was bought out of his contract with Ak Bars Kazan of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.
DiPietro returned to Long Island today after traveling to see specialists for a second opinion about his surgically repaired knee in the hope of learning why he still has swelling more than two months after his last arthroscopic surgery on Halloween. It's possible the Islanders might issue an update on DiPietro's status as soon as tonight, and a decision certainly will be reached in short order.
Told that Dubielewicz is talking to at least three NHL teams with goaltender problems, Snow said, "I guess we're one of the three. We have to see what happens with Rick first before we do anything."
Dubielewicz left the Islanders as a free agent last summer because they only could offer a two-way contract since Joey MacDonald was on a one-way deal that assured him the position as DiPietro's backup. MacDonald has started 35 games this season in place of DiPietro, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in June and then required another operation at the end of October just three starts into his comeback.
MacDonald will make his 36th start tonight at the Coliseum against the Rangers with Yann Danis once again called from Bridgeport to serve as backup. So far, the Islanders have shown little faith in Danis, who has made two starts. If DiPietro were to miss the rest of the season, Snow might want to add another goaltender for the second half to split duties with MacDonald.
"We worked out a buyout, and Wade's back," said Kurt Overhardt, who represents Dubielewicz. "We're just waiting to see what happens. We're talking to three teams with goaltender issues that need a reliable backup. Something will transpire in the next couple of days to two weeks."
KHL records are sketchy, but Overhardt said Dubielewicz played well in Russia and enjoyed the experience. If the Islanders sign him now, it has to be on a one-way deal, which would indicate DiPietro's season is over.
Asked what kind of terms Dubielewicz left on, Overhardt said, "No bridges were burned."
Comments (29)
Rags pushing us around as usual
ha ha we knew they'd come crawling back Wader!!!
Asked what kind of terms Dubielewicz left on, Overhardt said, "No bridges were burned."
What team are we talking about here -- The Islanders or Ak Bars Kazan?
The Rick doesn't like Dubielewicz. I'm personally not a fan of him either, but I hate The Rick even more. So wouldn't signing Dubie go against doing what the spoiled, Almighty One, average, No. 1 goaltender for life wants?
What a disgrace this organization continues to be.
1. Sit DiP for the rest of the season and let whatever the hell is the matter with him heal.
2. Deal all vets for draft picks or sub-23 year olds.
3. GET TAVARES!!!!!!!!
The Rangers and their fans come into our building and humiliate us every time. This is an all time low for this franchise. I'm done...
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Darn,I wanted that free chili from Wendys.
If we score 3 goals vs Henrik in 3 more games do we still get the chili?
How does an all star defenseman miss the net from that close
at the end of the game?
Isles OH 4 09!!!!!!
We are a putrid bunch
Steady
Sorry Logan, You deserve much better than the losers that post on this sight, shame rags could only get one goal on AHL Yanni, overated, have fun gettin bounced in the first round overpaid, and don't even matter, Wow you beat the isles, we are rebuilding smartly, and before long you will take your place again as 2nd best in Nyc, money will only buy you so much. Did Redden even play tonight, great sign. take your 1 in 69 and put it u know where. great blog Logan keep it up.
Good for Dani...hopefully he builds on this game... We're gonna need it!
Posted by dp | January 13, 2009 22:53 The Rangers and their fans come into our building and humiliate us every time. This is an all time low for this franchise. I'm done...
What was humiliating about this game? Yeah they lost- but they did not play a bad game.
Getting Dubie back. I'm in. Definitely can't hurt anything and the team doesn't seem to rally around Joey Mac. Why the hell not. He should have been DPs back-up all along. It would be a good move for the organization and the fans would enjoy it. Sign him!
I think getting Dubie back for this season would be a smart move. Danis is not NHL ready. He had the benefit of the team stepping up its effort the minute he went in the net, otherwise this game would have been worse.
As TMC said, nothing to be embarrassed about, Islanders topped the Rangers in blocked shots, hits, shots on goal, and hit 2 posts. They couldn't get any of the rebounds by Lundqvist who made some great saves in the 2nd and 3rd and some rookie mistakes (Comeau missing wide, Bailey freezing up in front of Lundy etc) cost us. Tim Jackman played a great physical game, he will need to bring that more often. Okposo keeps improving.
Some more sparks were shown tonight, with a little time hopefully they will ignite.
thanks raggies for pushing us all that much closer to a top 2 pick.
;)
Madchef-rebuilding smartly........HAHAHAHAHAHA too funny
our fans OWNED your building last night!!!!!!
look at todays paper-TWICE THE POINTS!!!!!!!!
hey thanks for the donation, we'll take your money. be happy with your standings, won't mean much when you get bounced yet again in the playoffs early(not exactly a deep thought). What part of 1 in 69 years do you not understand, hardly a winning franchise, even with the money you throw away on has beens.(see lindros, bure, redden, etc) again one goal against an ahl goalie, wow look out.
First, madchef, it was two goals against Danis so before you comment you should make sure you know what you are talking about. Now, put you coat on for recess.
Second, I just read the live blog from last night and Nick, I assume from the failing Lighthouse fame, actually called Hank "overrated". Has to be the dumbest of the many dumb comments I've ever read. Overrated, Nick??????? I guess you don't watch much hockey. Can't imagine what you think of Mr. Glass Dipietro if you think Hank is overrated. Too funny. How about this Nick, why don't you stick to telling us how close the Lighthouse project is to starting. How it is in some "environmntal review" and the shovels should be in the ground by Spring. Because your hockey comments are laughable. Hank overrated????? Man would the Isles LOVE to have such an overrated goalie.
Top 3 in the League is more like it..........Luongo, Hank, Nabokov
Funny how there is no "BRIAN" ever on the Rags blog. No balls to put the name you post over there huh.
Move along punk. Yes you have the better team. Big deal. You are going NO WHERE in the playoffs. Bruins would sweep you.
Your payroll is tied up with Gomez, Drury, etc. and they are all beyond past their prime.
Lundy is a good goalie. To call him elite is a joke. Goes down quicker than you at a gay club.
i am not on the island.... live in san francisco now.... so not around to hear the street beat.... but heard a rumor from a friend back home the other day that DP is really not injured at all and they are actually keeping him on the sidelines for the season so he has nothing to do stats-wise or psychologically with a dead last season, and keeping him out has the effect of keeping us in the basement with perceived good reason (#1 goalie down for the count) and that this is all planned in order to grab the top draft pick Tavares without appearing to throw a season.... i say ridiculous.... why would any team want to throw a season no matter how good the draft pick is. any thoughts or more info from local long islanders?
I was at the game last night and here are some painful observations ...
1) The Isles fan base is putrid at worst and disinterested at best. I understand this is a rebuilding year but to not represent against the Rangers is ridiculous. The NVMC had to be 70-30 in favor of Ranger fans last night (maybe worse) ... the Isles "Loudville" section was just to my right and barely got LOUD at all ... if the Isles are gonna give college kids those discounted tix then you'd think at the very least they'd scream throughout the game. Not. And late in the 3rd when the Isles killed a penalty and Dannis made a nice save there were CRICKETS in the old barn. I wanted to rip my Isles jersey off right there and then. Embarrassing.
2) The Isles have no play makers. I'm not gonna get on Bailey (he's an 18 yr old kid in slightly over his head) but he looks to pass almost EVERY time as opposed to trying to shoot. KO does not impress me as a high draft pick ... is he solid? Sure. Will he be a good player for this team ... I guess I can see it. But the Isles need scorers, stars, dynamic players and I don't think that's him. Tamby, Nielsen, Comeau, Bergy ... anyone there excite you guys? Not me.
3) The DP situation is a joke. We have just one prayer left ... sit him all year and have him rehab like mad for next year. When next year comes he has ZERO excuses. Any injuries or uninspired play from DP in 2009-2010 and we need to start drafting goalies until we strike gold. Thanks Wanger ... great contract.
4) Mike Comrie is an utter disgrace ... he seems to avoid contact and I don't have enough bad things to say about him. I actually saw him duck/cringe once when the puck was shot toward him ... by his own team!!! Please trade this fool.
I could go on and on but it's not worth it. This is the lowest this franchise has been in so many years it's frightening. I'd be all behind the "youth movement" if I saw some "utes" that I thought would be something someday. I'm not gonna dump on Bailey or KO (they'll be decent enough in the future) but they're not the answer. Maybe it starts w/ Tavares, maybe not. Although I'm certain Isles will have the worst record and then lose the draft lottery and wind up picking 3rd somehow ... no Tavares ... no Hedman ... no luck!!!!
Oh, and for all the Ranger fans on this blog ... you guys couldn't dominate a no scoring team w/ a back-up, back-up goalie ... if you played the Pens or Habs last night you would have lost by 5 goals. So, don't be so proud.
30th place in a league of 30! We're actually 5 points out of 29th place!!
Even the Rangers at their worst have never been this low so stop playing into their game by actually trying to insult their fans. It just makes us look even worse.
It's going to take much, much more than Tavares to get anywhere with this ridiculous charade of a hockey team and that's IF we even get Tavares.
GET RID OF SNOW!
I will attend the game Sat. night to see my poor team. Real Islanders fans have to just accept that when you are in rebuilding mode with a TON of injuries and possibly the goalie coach putting on the pads and going in the net, you have to give the boys some slack (except Comrie). And yes, accept that we can't compete with the rest of the NHL.
As a lifetime Isles fan it's sad that there is a good chance now Wang may sell the team and Long Island will wave goodbye to pro sports. I haven't seen anything moving with Town of Hempstead supervisor Kate Murray and the Lighthouse project. Now in this economy, it could be a fatal blow to LI, if we don't get a deal done.
I will see my last Isle game of the season on Sat. Hope it's not my last game ever.
The problem with this team starts and ends with the BOBBLEHEADS!!!
Wang and Snow have destroyed any chance of a qucik re-build.
Now you all see why NOLAN is the man that should of stayed. He had the players plaing hard and TEN TIMES better nightly. He was 100% correct in the way he dealt with the lowly Tamby !!!
Yes, we may get the #1 pick...That is no guarantee. Even with Tavares this team is far far away b/c of the mgmt. Look at every other good team in sports. Tehy have strong owners, strong GM, and a strong coach.
WE HAVE NONE OF THAT !!!
FIRE SNOW...SELL THE TEAM !!!
Teams can win with bad management. Just look at the Bruins.
Bruins have not won since 1972. Yes they are having a good year and are a very strong team. With that said, they are usually wallowing in mediocrity.
Harry Sinden is a puppet for Jeromy Jacobs. The two of them are also morons, but they at least have hockey knowledge. difference is they are all about the almighty DOLLAR $$$$$$$$$. All they care about is making money. So many times they do not get the extra player needed at the deadline.
Snow and Wanger want to put Sumo wrestlers in net and give out 15 yr. contracts........BIG DIFFERENCE !!
Records coming from the KHL are not sketchy. KHL.ru gives Dubie's stats as:
11-8-3 in 21 games, .892 save percentage, 2.77 GAA
http://www.khl.ru/players/?idplayer=15205
Canucks just waived Curtis Sanford.. pick'em up.. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Dooobie doobie do fan as well but there is just less to worry about with Curtis. He's been playing, has decent numbers and is in the N H L this year for cryin out loud.. It just makes good sense..
Canucks just waived Curtis Sanford.. pick'em up.. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Dooobie doobie do fan as well but there is just less to worry about with Curtis. He's been playing, has decent numbers and is in the N H L this year for cryin out loud.. It just makes good sense..
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Even in the Rangers WORSE seasons they never as bad as the 2008-2009 edition of the Islanders.
I have to give the 43 diehards that showed up last night kudos
for even being there.Must have been tough being surronded by SO MANY Ranger fans in "your" building.
You only have one thing on the Rangers.The Ice Girls.But
10,000 ice girls can't compensate for lousy hockey.And although you fought last night and played hard,most nights it's just plain lousy hockey.
I miss my bf... where are you Sean Avery..
Rags fans,
It won't matter what you say here, NO CUP FOR YOU in 2009.