DiPIETRO YET TO RESUME REGULAR WORKOUTS
Source: Goalie still not medically cleared to practice
UPDATED Tuesday, 12:35 am - As sort of predicted in the post below, the Islanders went to Katie Strang of Newsday to give their side of the story on Rick DiPietro’s rehabilitation process. Point Blank stands by our story that the goaltender has not begun regular on-ice workouts and that he has not been medically cleared for practice.
It should be noted that this blog contacted the Islanders at 9:30 am Monday to let them know about our article and see if the team wished to comment. Three hours later - with no feedback from the team other than an acknowledgment they received our note - we posted the piece.
We are glad that our coverage led Rick to speak publicly on the subject for the first time in months. (He told Newsday “the only thing I want to be in the paper for is winning games.”) Next up: we expect to see some photos of DiPietro doing splits in full pads to show how close he is to returning.
DiPietro scoffed at our opinion that his focus should only be on playing for the Islanders and he shouldn’t be thinking about the U.S. Olympic team. “If I’m healthy,” he told Katie, “why would I not want to play”?
*
(Note: a briefer version of this story was published at 12:30 pm on SNY.tv. Appreciate any support shown over there as well).
Monday, 1:00 pm - Despite repeated declarations by Islanders management that Rick DiPietro would resume skating this month, Point Blank has learned that the all-star goaltender has not begun regular on-ice workouts as of today.
Point Blank has also learned that DiPietro has yet to receive clearance from the Islanders’ medical staff to begin light practices. Projections made by this blog over a month ago seem more in line with reality for the rehabilitating goaltender.
More than they ever have been, the Islanders are protected for a prolonged absence by the U.S. Olympian. Over the last two months, the team signed solid NHL No. 1 goalies Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron. Prior to the surprise deal with Biron, AHLer Scott Munroe was slotted to be Roloson’s backup but will now be a regular in Bridgeport. Nathan Lawson, a minor leaguer who gave the Sound Tigers a strong 2008-09 season, was re-signed last week after protracted negotiations and will now battle for starts in the AHL.
Although they later proved the relative simplicity of adding goaltenders the calibre of Roloson and Biron through making phone calls and writing checks, the Islanders in June used the first picks in the second and third rounds to stock the goalie depth chart. They drafted Mikko Koskinen - 21 years old and bound for Bridgeport or the ECHL- and 18-year old Anders Nilsson (staying in Sweden) when skill players at forward and defense were still available.
More than set in goal without DiPietro, the time should be near for the Islanders to be transparent with their fanbase - and in the process lower the bar for his return date. Why continue to give the impression his return is imminent when he is not ready on August 24 for practices of any impact? Especially after signing four goalies and drafting another two.
The Islanders wisely kept the story under wraps until they were satisfied with their net acquisitions. Know this: Roloson and Biron were well-briefed on DiPietro’s condition before signing here. There’s no longer any reason for the silence.
The Islanders could host a comprehensive conference call with DiPietro, Garth Snow and all proper medical personnel. The doctors can provide full-disclosure of DiPietro’s procedures. The goalie can humbly remove himself from the 2010 Olympics discussion and profess that his only priority is returning to the Islanders. (The talk of DiPietro still as a possibility for Team USA is absurb and out-of-focus).
If they choose to not be so open, the Islanders could issue a press release to all media. Or they could sit down with new Islanders beat writer Katie Strang, since Newsday is the lone mainstream media outlet covering the team full-time.
Point Blank sources say that, contrary to internet conjecture, DiPietro’s career is not done. At the very least, he is far from done trying. His hips are strong but his oft-surgically-repaired knee is the root of all problems. If he attends training camp in Saskatoon, it will likely be as much for camaraderie as it will to take part in NHL practices. A legitimate target date for his full-scale return to stopping pucks is unclear.
Hopefully soon the Islanders will be able and willing to let everyone know. It would be wise for the organization to be up-front on the DiPietro story now, instead of allowing it to crash into the excitement around the NHL debut of John Tavares. With Roloson and Biron in the fold, this is no longer a competitive issue. Fans just want to know what’s up with Rick DiPietro, the talented and popular 28-year old former face of the franchise.
Comments.
118 Responses to “DiPIETRO YET TO RESUME REGULAR WORKOUTS
Source: Goalie still not medically cleared to practice”
Please Wait
Very accurate post, Chris. I completely agree 100% about what you said. The Isles need to be up-front with their fanbase regarding issues like this… Thanks for the update!
Well……..oh forget it. My opinion means little. Even though I am right. But the goalie situation is set for now which is really what matters. And what with the SNY.tv. article? Is this a link I should put in my favorites list or what?
Thanks for the new post Chris. I hope the Islanders take your advice.
I like the SNY is picking up your story. Could this be a test to see if they want to add you to their roster?
We have been saying over at The Guild that DiPietro won’t even play a single game this season, and after reading this great report, we are even more confident that the Islanders should just give DiPietro the entire season off. What’s the difference when he’s signed for another decade anyways?
I think it’s mea culpa time for the Isles’ organization. This is obviously far beyond withholding injury information for competitive advantage purposes. Respect the fans and level with them. Then we can all unite in pulling for Rick’s healthy return with a more realistic timeframe.
The writing’s been on the wall since Day 2 of the draft when they took Koskinen and Nilsson, and became especially clear with the Roloson and Biron signings. The team has already said everything there is to be said without having a dog-and-pony show for the press.
We are all routing for DP. A healty DP is what will lead us to the promised land. There is no shame or harm for shutting him down for the season.
But no fan should be surprised that he isn’t on the ice. The Biron signing signaled that his return was a farce
Could this be the next step for Chris Botta….no, not goaltending….SNY. Show some love for Chris over there….it might be his job interview.
I agree with ya Don (#6).
There is no need for the team to come out and say anything. Their transactions are proof enough.
Im really not too concerned if he’s out all season or not. When he’s back- great. we’ll deal with our goalie situation then. But he’s not ready now and the team did everything it needed to be ready for a season without him.
I think hes pretty much done……give or take he will make a come back but he will not be able to stay healthy for very long…that knee injury is the end of him
I hope everyone posting and reading here are posting and reading the sny article.
My father talked to our new season ticket rep this morning (our old rep went to work for the Rangers, wtf?) and the guy said he thinks DP is finished. Make of that what you will.
ooooooooooohhh noooooooooooooo
Excellent article CB. You are absolutely right that they should be upfront about this. Hopefully, thats how they see it, too. I do NOT want to see the ridiculousness of last year repeated in any way, shape, or form.
The Isles THANKFULLY have their goalies set for next season- if Rick is well enough to play this year, thats cake as far as Im concerned. Let Rick take all the time he needs- this time he can do that without the Isles being screwed in net, which is great. Wishing Rick all the best and to take his time- the Isles will be OK now and taking all the time he needs will help everyone.
Also- its excellent to see your article on SNY! God I hope they see what a gem you can be for their site. They will be shocked at how many more visitors they will get if they get you on their team.
Let’s hope that Biron has the the type of breakout year that Tim Thomas had for the Bruins last year, and then the Isles can lock up this 32 year old as their starter for the next 5 years while cutting DiPi lose if he really will never be the same. Hopefully the Isles will at least be honest with themselves about his future, even if they won’t share anything with the fans.
Chris Botta would be great for SNY. Thats a great idea, whoever presented it.
Ricky obviously has trouble physically handling the rigors of goaltending in the NHL. He is 28. Not old, but not getting younger. This is prime age and he has already had concussions, hip surgeries, and knee surgeries. How hard is it to fix a knee? Ive seen pampered baseball players come back from injuries quicker. This is a hockey player!
To say that Rick’s career is in doubt is fair, whether you favor or oppose him.
He has caused this franchise having Roberto Luongo in net, drafting Dany Heatley, a couple of good draft picks this year, and a ridiculous contract that will expire when my 1 year old is heading to 6th grade! Enough! Its never going work with Rick! He is a bust!
We missed out on some very good talent drafting these big goofy goalies from Europe! Thanks to Rick!
This is not news based upon th eactions of the orginization that is all. I have said it before, we have two number 1 goalies. We have Biron signed for another year. DP is not done. shut him down for the year, let him fully rehab. with his athletic ability he will be able to come back in a year. as for roloson, biron ride the two of them until the deadline. If they isles are close keep biron, if not trade him. this is all no big deal, DP will be able to come back but just shut him down for another year he will be fine and come back stronger.
I would love if Islanders Point Blank becomes a SNY sponsor blog and if a TV show comes from it.
1) Agreed. We could understand the obfuscation before the draft/free agent signings, but why continue the charade now?
2) It makes everyone within the organization look bad/trying to hide something. Its not like fans are going to stop going because Ricky isn’t going to play much in 2009-2010. At this point he’s superfluous.
DOn’t just post here then…..post on SNY
D-O-N-E
Anyone want the ticket to DP’s last game in an Islander Uniform? (last January against the Yotes).
Rob #16 - none of this can be blamed directly on DP. Blame Milbury, but what was DP supposed to do? Not sign here because MM made stupid moves? DP has always been a gamer. It is tragic that he appears to be done, but that is also hard to blame on him directly unless it comes out that he did not re-hab the way he was supposed to.
That all being said, what does the organization have to hide at this point? We have already made our moves for life after DP, both short term (Roloson and Biron) and long term (Koskinen and Nilsson). So why not come clean?
I love Rick DiPietro! His return to health would be the biggest boost the team could get. At least this year they are not rushing his return. It is more then clear his return was allowed to move to quickly last year. Take the time to do it right this time.
I believe Rick will return at some point this reason and never be bothered by these injuries again.
I still question the lack of brain power in Snow/Gordon on their willingness to protect their players on and off the ice. We are all excited about Okposo, Bailey, Tavares, Rolo, Biron etc now but we could easily be talking about their injuries soon because there is little toughness on the team. Several of Rick’s injuries are from being run without response. We were all excited about Neilsen until……..Mottau.
So while I am excited in many ways in how the team is moving forward, I have some trepidation on how successful they will be until they address toughness and defense.
Get well soon Ricky!
shocker, dp still out indefinite. At least the club is moving on by signing some capable net talent
I gotta tell ya, i am SHOCKED!…….yeah right, when you bring in 5 new goalies, its a sign that DP wasn’t going to be ready
It’s possible that the Islanders aren’t legally allowed to disclose DP’s health information unless:
A) It’s in the negotiated CBA that they can
or
B) DiPietro allows them to
Perhaps someone can clarify the rules/law on that.. maybe DP doesn’t want this information released.. maybe the Islanders have their hands tied under federal/state law(s) and cannot issue written statements about an employee’s health.
That said, actions speak louder than words.. the free agent signings tell the tale.. DP is not going to be back in 2009.. let’s hope our franchise goalie (who was recently an all-star, let’s remember) can be ready to go sometime in 2010..
As for drafting two goalies in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.. I’m not reading any more in to that than the Islanders have finally realized that when it comes to goaltending - quantity is important because you just don’t know how they’re going to develop.. so the more goalies you have, the better chance you have that you’ll have an NHL calibre netminder somewhere in your organization..
Can’t believe he’s 28 already…..a bust of Milbury-esque purportions. Right up there with Paul Wilson and Bill Pulsipher.
Oh come ON. An olympic athlete and an all-star who carried his team when he was healthy is not a “bust” of ANY proportions. There is a HUGE difference between being injured and sucking- why dont some of you see that????
As an Islanders fan, id hate to say this, but people keep saying dipi was an all star. Every team has to be represented, he was our best player. Lunquist is a better goalie and should have been an all star before dipi
i think i’m gonna puke. this is awful, i hope to god this doesnt become a forsberg situation where every year he tries a new experimental procedure which ends up failing.
i’m heartbroken, ricky is my fave player in the NHL and optimistic or not this almost signals an end to his career at least on an allstar level.
but seriously the isles management have completely handled the situation wrong and as u stated CB they need to come clean to the fanbase.
Now now, they said August. That means they have until Aug 31 at the stroke of midnight everywhere in the world to have him skate.
He should have never been playing so risky with such a big contract. He prolly got hurt all those time on purpose so he can take the money and run like the loser he is.
So is there a rink in Samoa?
Bonzo knows ribs. So does Billy Smith…and about knee problems too…ah yes…DP is done, mes amis.
take this as you will, but from what I understand, DP and Snow used to be golf buddies. While DP was on honeymoon, Snow signed Biron, they havent been seen together since.
Botta … I would love to see you in some ‘NY NY Sports Sports’ commercials with Mandeep and Sharvarish on SNY!
“SNY PLEEEAASSEEEEEE”
I am and have always been a big fan of Rick’s and I feel bad for the guy. I mean I know he wants to get out on the ice and help the team and it is probably more frustrating for him then for anyone else. Hopefully he gets healthy and comes back eventually.
Can anyone shed some light on how DP being officially placed on the Injured list affects the cap? Would his pay come off the cap, thereby bringing the Isles below the cap?
Losing 4.5 Mil off the cap would force Garth to either overpay for a FA, and interfere with the plan to go with the kids, or worse force him to give some of the kids oversized contracts.
If anybody knows the answer, it might be THE answer
I’m sure there are some complexities surrounding the whole injury situation….but am I crazy for being offended by how they handle/report (or in this case FAIL to report) this stuff. Even the most casual fan could see this coming down the pipeline months ago.
What is management thinking when they fail to be truthful and honest in regards to someone whom they billed as the face of the franchise for the past few years?
Sean (29): Although the idea that every team has to be represented is constantly repeated, it is NOT true. The Isles have had seasons when they were not represented. They try to pick someone from every team, but they dont HAVE to have someone from every team there- it is a fallacy. Rick earned his ASG place- and he was not only put into the ASG but he was indeed the best goalie of the night.
Let the post DP era begin
#26 - There really isn’t anything in the law that’s limiting the team from disclosing DiPietro’s status. This isn’t health information like you would find in his records at a doctor’s office. It’s possible that Rick’s contract is holding them back. It is likely, though, that the team is just being quiet because they feel like it. It was a common theme this season that teams would not make statements about players’ injuries. I’m sure that if you were to call anyone on the team and ask they would tell you that Rick is suffering from a lower body injury.
Rick probably isn’t done yet. Hopefully, the team will do this season what they should have done last season. Keep Rick off the ice. Manny Fernandez presents an analogous situation. He went down with a season ending knee injury 4 games into the season and the Bruins kept him from playing for the year. He came back fine and it allowed Tim Thomas to break out. In any case, we the fans will likely not know if Rick is done until next off-season.
The song is “The Long And Lying Road”
Dipietro is finished and just like the Islanders are preparing for it, so should you dream land fans.
Boy what a Great contract for a Mediocre Goalie!
The were and still are not upfront with this and it will bite the
in the a… Eventually.
I like Rick, but in all fairness he is a bit over rated. He is good, but not a top 10 goalie. I always believed Luongo was better. Mad Mike made the trade behind the back of the Isles brass (I know that first hand from speaking directly with the Isles brass) Shame. The losers are the fans…
Actions speak louder then words. The team might be saying he will be fine. But look at their ACTIONS. Drafting 2 goalies and signing to top level NHL goalies. There isn’t too much to investigate there. DP is not playing until after the new year.
I think, CB, you should get Dilbury on this site for a Q and A. Although in fairness….Heatly (character issues) and Gaborik (health issues as well) weren’t prizes at 2 and 3 in the draft.
I honestly feel bad for the guy. He may have not been the most sound goalie but when he was on top of his game he could steal you some games. DP obviously wants to be a winner and no one can blame him for signing contract. From here on out hopefully everyone gets this right and we end up with a solid 8-9 years of him during the remainder of the contract - even if it takes two years to sort this mess out.
Okay fans lets not rush the goaltender we are in good hands with Biron and Roloson so lets concentrate on the rest of the team and rememember what I’ve been saying all summer “Watchout for the Islanders this year onward to the CUP”
Why do so many of us so called Islander Fans love to write “DP is Done”?
I dont get it-
Is there some sort of group strategy in place? Did I miss the memo?
Or maybe it’s just reverse psychology, or some simple preemptive tactic to cope with the prolonged and indeterminate separation from our (rightfully dubbed) All-Star/Olympian Goalie?
Mark My Words-
Rick DiPietro will be back, and he will slowly but surely rise to his regular form (or at least close).
So lets continue to keep the expectations LOW, as we all seem resound to doing anyway, it will work to our advantage.
He wont be back quickly, but he will return, and will keep working hard to return.
I’ll go as far as to say he will be the NHL Comeback Player of the Year, it just may not be this year (Still I’ll Take it).
It’s Better than “DP is Done”
Lets Go Islanders
Lets Go #39
DP is done.
Stick a fork in him.
Stop the lies Snow!!!! It would be nice if our GM would talk to the fans. The right thing for DP’s sake is to tell the truth. This way all of the DP haters will see that his injuries are real.
DP please!! It is over! He has not faced a shot on the ice since last Jan. and now he isn’t even cleared to practice!!Let’s see, surgically repaired hips and at least 3 knee operations!! It’s not like an NHL goalie needs hips or knee’s!!
time bomb.
Interesting post, but I think that the Isles haven’t commented on Rick in a while and basically the silence paired with all the goalie signings this off season speak volumes. It is what it is, I don’t think there is any need for a press conference to state what is more than obvious.
I only wish Rick well and hope one day that he makes a great come back, but the Isles have moved on–they had to and they will still pay Rick so no tears for anyone.
Can you say “pay up insurance company”?
I personally hope DP has played his last game in an Islander uniform. It’s not just because I never really liked him, but I think Roloson and Biron are both steadier goalies than him. He is too much of a train wreck to bank your future on now, and he’s not exactly young anymore.
For those that Love this Site and CB’s Content……….
I find it odd that there are 55 Comments Here and Only 19 On His “Special” Post (Audition) over on SNY.
It should be 55 to 119 if we really want to keep having access to his islander insight’s and coverage.
Help a Brother Out:
http://www.sny.tv/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090824&content_id=6592576&oid=36219&vkey=16
CB … Agreed … The Isles should own up to the DP situation and just express that rushing DP back last season was a major mistake that they do not want to repeat … chances are DP’s knee problem was made worse that before the surgery and they had to go in there and fix it … and that DP is under strict therapy that cannot rush him back … We aren’t stupid …. Drafting 2 goalies back to back when we had other pressing needs, and then signing TWO #1 goaltenders… C’monnnn Garth … vess up!!!
could you believe the backlash the isles would get if they didnt sign rolo and biron.. they would have been accused of tanking..again.. for the shot at hall. whatever with dp. its nature of the game/business, jordan left the bulls and the bulls still had games to play. you cant sit back and pray for one player to turn around the team. the islanders are the islanders with or without him. just take it in stride at this point. i mean really weve all been through worse (see Spano, gluckerstern, etc)
If DP was true to the Isles and Wang, he’d give the money back to the organization.
He was and always will be an overpaid scrub.
sometimes managers, coaches and g.m.’s don’t make a move they should because they don’t want to appear pushed into it, or to prove a point. i don’t think this g.m. is insecure like that. maybe he’s just handling it real delicately for the kid’s benefit but soon will fill everyone in.
Who cares, I am sick of the DP sideshow. We are set in goal. Let the games begin!
Does anyone know how the insurance policy works in this case? In any case it helps repay the islanders or DP for being out of the game forever. Sad for DP but contracts all have clauses like this for career ending injuries.
Another great article CB. Keep up the great work.
The only goalie retained in the Isles org this year was Nathan Lawson. They let MacDonald, Danis and Mannino go. They HAD to re-pool at that position. So yes, 5 goalies, 3 to fill roster spots, and 2 to add depth to an area they were weak in to begin with.
Best of luck to a strong comeback for DP.
Reading a lot of the comments here, I have to wonder about how it is that “fans” hate the players on their team so much.
I find it amazing to have Islanders fans say “He is Done” or I am happy he is hurt because we have Roloson and Biron. Unless your name is Garth or you have MD at the end of your name you sound like an idiot with these comments. What is DP going to do today 8/24 skate with Nickelback and Mark Parrish? Yes, we know he is not 100%. Good news since we are in the dog days of August. Let us let this play out before we all give our “Expert” Opinions!!!
Oh boy here we go again. I have to say I disagree with CB and with some of the posters who say we must no what is going on with Dipietro. We have all of the goalies we need and the DP thing will work itself out and have ABSOLUTELY NO BEARING on my life whatsoever. Don’t need to know, don’t care, and I will still be attending every game I can with or without the knowledge of when Rick will be back on the ice. He’s hurt, he’s out until he gets better, there’s your story people.
Disclaimer: this is all speculation based on what’s been reported in the news
“Lingering persistent swelling and soreness in his left knee that required surgery twice in four months kept DiPietro out for all but five of the team’s 46 games this season and led to Tuesday’s decision to shut him down.” ……..
“”There was a lack of improvement from the time of the first surgery to the second surgery……The response was not what we expected.”
The deal with DP: My best friend and Isles fan is a Rheumatologist and specializes in post-orthopedic acute care medicine. Here’s his take on DP - problem isn’t structural (just as news reports stated) its inflammatory (ie the persistent swelling thats been reported). Swelling is normal for a few months after surgery but should abate to normal fairly soon after that as all the trauma heals But……..
Sometimes in rare cases there is some type of post-surgery reaction by the immune system and it basically goes nuts at the site of surgery inducing the joint to swell up. The swelling reaction in these cases (not completely understood) becomes a postive feedback reaction and keeps the swelling persistent despite the fact that the trauma from surgery is healed and the knee is structural sound. This is what my friend guesses is going on with Rickie. He’s guessing the Docs couldn’t figure out why the swelling wasn’t going down and then went in to do exploratory surgery and do another meniscule repair with the guess that was contributing to the swelling ie
“The injury is not believed, at this point, to be career threatening. DiPietro is expected to be re-evaluated in six-to-eight weeks to see if the swelling and discomfort has diminished..”
This is probably true as long as the inflamation can be controlled but it seems that it isn’t…
Now the doc BS
“The problem is that the lateral meniscus when it’s damaged and has surgery on it two times, it can take quite a while to recover,” Hershman said. “A lot of the stress of the knee in hockey goes through the lateral compartment.”
Only problem with this is that inflammation is the reported problem not a structural one- In other words the docs don’t know what’s going on and hence ““Rick DiPietro recently was seen on crutches at the physical therapy center where the Islanders do their rehabilitation.” (4/13/09)
The inflammation is either going to clear up or it isn’t - Rick’s hard work probably has nothing to do with that. It is a very bad omen though and it portents probably persistent inflammatory knee problems (likely his knee will swell up after minor injuries). Either way DP is going to get early arthritis in the knee and have a shortened career if he continues
My guess since he still isn’t cleared from the time of the surgery to now is that he had microfracture surgery. especially since microfracture surgery is the last resort to his rumored type of injuries and if the damage was located in a weight bearing part of the knee, rehab can take up to a year or more
I hope he comes back and he and Biron play together for several years and turn this franchise around. Then everyone on here thats ripping him will be screaming DP DP just like the night he made 80 saves against the rags. ITS NOT HIS FAULT THEY GAVE HIM THE CONTRACT YOU FOOLS!!!!!!!! ME, YOU AND EVERYONE ON HERE WOULD SIGN THAT CONTRACT!!!!!!!!!
i’m with Lou D. it would be nice if the kid can come back but we know it won’t be anytime soon, whatever the g.m. says or doesn’t say. meanwhile the team goes on - at least for this year - and it’s time to look ahead.
DP’s days with Isles are over !!! We are going on 2 years of injuries and still no end in site.
I sincerely hope the Isles take their time with DP, and not trying to resume skating in August. We have two capable goalies for this team aside from Ricky.
I agree with you, JKP (67)- being frustrated about injuries is one thing- an understandable thing- but there is no excuse for being so hateful and mean over it and actually WISHING for career ending injuries for a kid in his 20s who has played his tail off for your team. Saying terrible things like that is inexcusable and unfortunately such things darken the reputations of all Isles fans.
Good post, neologizer. What you’re stating is in line with much of what we’ve heard.
I wonder if Rick is suffering from a reflex sympathetic dystrophy:
“Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a chronic, painful, and progressive neurological condition that affects the skin, muscles, joints, and bones. The syndrome usually develops in an injured limb, such as a broken leg, or following surgery. However, many cases of RSD involve only a minor injury, such as a sprain…
RSD/CRPS is characterized by various degrees of burning pain, excessive sweating, swelling, and sensitivity to touch. Pain may begin in one area or limb and then spread to other limbs. In some cases, symptoms of RSD/CRPS diminish for a period of time and then reappear with a new injury.”
Thats exactly it….the speculation is wild. With out transparent information from the Islanders we can only go by what we know.
DP has had an injury riddled career.
DP attempted to comeback and re injured his knee.
DP hasn’t skated with the team since.
The Islanders drafted two goalie prospects.
The Islanders only major free agent signings were number one goalies on their previous teams.
Do the math. DP most likely will not play another NHL game.
Well said, CB. Another great post. I’ve got to admit I’ve missed your daily posts since PB has begun to wind down.
I gave SNY.com a click for you. Hope it helps in some way.
There are some delirious Islanders fans out here. DP comeback!? Maybe if the guy stayed put in the net rather than skating all over the ice to play pucks, he would have had a longer tenure. Unfortunately the brains weren’t there.
With Roloson and Biron and the prospect of Mikko Koskinan I am not going to miss Dipietro and hope a buyout is in the works.
it’s sad but true, d.p stands for dosent’ play. buy him out or trade him away. didn’t we learn a valuable and expensive lesson from mr yashin. long term contracts and islanders don’t mix . its time for biron to lead the team
First of all, I don’t understand why some Islanders fans are suddenly against Dipietro. Less than two years ago, he was the elected face of our franchise.
Dipietro has continued to be injured largely because of his will to compete and get back to helping the team.
Secondly, last week, Dipetro lightly skated in a sweatsuit for about 10-15 minutes. Take that however you want.
We’re all Islanders…but I doubt many of us are Doctors…I wish Ricky the best, and if he can make a full recovery I would glad to have him lead us to a cup
hes done, i hope they can make him a goalie coach or something then that way he can earn the money hes making.
MattNC
I think you hit one nail on the head. If Rick has some form of RSD then everything that’s been reported and said by the Isles could have been truthful all along(and Rick might or might play again).
I think people have to understand something
1) Assuming the Isles/Docs weren’t blatantly lying: repairing a “torn meniscus” is extremely common and routine. Usually day of in and out surgery which you can often walk home from. Although, fragile knees are incredibly fixable with today’s technology
2) persistent inflammation is not normal for such a surgery
3)When it does occur such etiology is obscure and you can have complete recovery or no recovery at all. RSD is a good example of this.
CB Has a point with the Isles coming clean with Rick’s knee. But if he has something like RSD that pretty much tells us nothing. RSD is not well understood it might be appropriate to describe RSD as a nebulous collection of symptoms.
Honestly if I was Isles/Rick and had RSD I wouldn’t say a thing and try my best to heal.
@#68….It is called common sense and read post #70.
Why is this even bad news??? Was he not cleared to play to because he was still hurting, or are the doctors just being cautious considering there is no need to rush him? Whatever the case its no big deal and its probably smart that he’s not skating now.
If he started skating now, returned in late November and got hurt again, we’d probably be thinking that he should have waited longer….
so I’m not too concerned with this.
I think the only thing that us die hard fans want o know is the truth. Yes they have Roloson and Biron, and yes they drafted 2 goalies with other skilled players available, but we all want to know about DiPIetro’s health. He is a home grown Islander, and yes Milbury drafted him, but it is not DP’s fault for signing the long contract. Since he has the contract he has, the die hard fans just want the organization to disclose the plans, and the expected future of DiPietro. I do feel sorry for the guy. If he does come back, and makes a comeback, say for 2010-2011, less pressure on him to be the go to guy, always have a back up being a capable number 1 goalie, and perhaps with less pressure, can lead us to a Stanley Cup. But for now, lets be realistic, and hope the Islanders organization just informs us of the current DiPietro situation whether or not it is good or bad news regarding his future.
CB.Check out the new article on newsday about DP. The writer brings up qoutes from your most recent post “An Internet report Monday challenged DiPietro’s readiness by noting that he had ‘not begun regular on-ice workouts’” DP called or the Writer contacted him but she has him saying he has skated and will hopefully head to camp in somewhat practice rediness.
no reason to rush dp…we have roloson and biron…let dp sit out the year again and comeback 100% healthy next year…whats the worst that can happen…we end up with taylor hall or kabanov?
im not even the biggest DP fan but i think he makes our team better. this is probably the best goaltending tandem isles have put out in years.
If DP comes back later in year. Biron or Roloson can be traded for 2nd rounder if they playing great.
Yr two of the rebuild going to be better than you think. Watch the Isles suprise. wouldnt that be great.
One knee surgery was routine. It didn’t work. If it got scoped a second time, he has less tissue to support his knee, and to my knowledge, that means the shaved cup in the cartilage was reshaped and now is less or not at all a cup. Reading up, people can lead normal lives if the second surgery works…..normal. Athletes? Not so easy.
I hope he leads a pain free life as our next GM in two years.
UPDATED Friday, 12:35 am - As we sort of predicted , the Islanders went to Katie Strang of Newsday to give their side of the story on Rick DiPietro’s rehabilitation process. Point Blank stands by our story that the goaltender has not begun regular on-ice workouts and that he has not been medically cleared for practice.
It should be noted that this blog contacted the Islanders at 9:30 am to let them know about our story and see if the team wished to comment. Three hours later - with no feedback from the team other than an acknowledgment they received our note - we posted the article.
We are also glad that our coverage led to Rick speaking publicly on the subject for the first time in months. (He told Newsday “the only thing I want to be in the paper for is winning games.”) Next up: we expect to see some photos of DiPietro doing splits in full pads to show how close he is to returning.
DiPietro scoffed at our notion that his focus should only be on playing for the Islanders and he shouldn’t be thinking about the U.S. Olympic team. “If I’m healthy,” he told Katie, “why would I not want to play”?
Interesting. Thanks for the update, CB. Im glad that the Isles gave Rick the green light to do some talking about this, but I dont know what it means. The fact that he skated does not mean that he has resumed regular workouts. I think Rick makes a valid point about not wanting to be a distraction, but come on- saying nothing just leads to wild speculation and dismal statements about whats “really” going on from fans who just dont KNOW whats going on. (I mean, look at the comments right here!)
Im a little concerned the Isles are a bit too worried about defending themselves and their statements. I just want them to do whats best for Rick and be upfront about things- UNlike last year. Im happy about what they have done with the goaltending situation so far for the upcoming season… if they are straight up about Rick, then things will truly be heading the right way.
Go play. Go get hurt. Do whatever you want like always Rick. We’re only paying fans…..Rush back again so we can lose……wait! Snow fixed that problen
And then some.
CB — You have to admit … that was a very very fair response by Rick. However, Rick also has to understand … that silence from the Isles’ camp regarding his progress leads to speculation.
I think Rick is right to come back only when he’s 100%… I think the difference this year is that we now have the luxury to let Rick hold his end of the bargain and get healthy again … I think with his athleticism and his competitiveness he’ll be back to form once he is 100% healthy.
Good luck Rick … and great follow up CB!
I love it. Chris, you touched a sensitive spot with DP…perfect. I hope DP comes back soon and I hope he is a 100% but this organization has to do a better job on keeping fans informed. As for DP’s comment about not wanting to be a distraction…HELLO…not knowing anything is a huge distraction. How about being up front about everything, then articles like this won’t have to be written second guesing your progress. Good for you Chris, great article.
Why shouldn’t DP play in the Olympics? Well, for the same reason he shouldn’t have played in the all star game back in 07… Let’s just hope he’s not mic’ed up for the Olympics if he actually plays…
They went to the Isles Files…lol. What a joke…she already jinxed KO.
DP deserves a chance to prove himself once he is 100% healthy. No reason to rush him back.
Youre right CB…its time to be upfront with the fanbase on his status.
I dont like this new girl already. She walks into town and refers to Botta as “An Internet Reporter.” How about the only reporter that actually covers the Islanders indepth and accurately.
The thing is, nothing in that article refutes what Chris has written. Nowhere does DiPietro state that what was written in the blog is wrong or inaccurate. All he says is that he’s following the rehab schedule as closely as possible. Only he and the Islanders know what that schedule is.
Is it Friday already? Damn, that work week went by quickly!!! In all seriousness, the articles that tweek the Organization are the best. Thanks for putting this out there.
I could care less. In my opinion DiPietro is done. If we get him back and he can help the team. Great! but I’m not counting on it. I’ve already moved on.
I’m ready for opening night!!! LETS GO!!!!!
When does skating around a rink for 10-15 minutes mean progress… I mean Bobby Orr… with his bad knees can skate around the rink for 15 minutes… but I seriously doubt he could do an on ice workout to prep for the season. More smoke screen. That said Rick, take your time and get completely healthy there is no need to rush and this team will be better once you are able to compete at the level we all know you can. There is no rush… the team has bought you plenty of time… along with its own insurance policy for present and future.
You play the game with the players that are available. DP is not available, so all of this is a non-issue. Thankfully the Isles learned their lesson about depth.
All Islander fans are behind DP to be healthy, if not to return to the Isles, just to enjoy the rest of his life. The bigger question in Uniondale is why have 7 goaltenders in an organizaton that can really only give playing time to 4.
Roloson will be the starter, with adequate support from Biron. They drafted a mature goalie with their second round pick to compete for AHL starts with Lawson (who they must have intended on signing all along). Why did they need Munroe. Why draft Nilsson. Did they get GOOD NEWS about DP after the draft and UFA period… or are they planning on having a goaltender fire sale at the trading deadline.
Sure, it’s a good problem to have, but not when your top forward scored 20 goals last year, and you haven’t had a healthy defensive corp in 3 years.
Snow has done some really good things with this team so far, but he may have really dropped the ball here.. especially with BOTH goalies from 2009 signing as backups to better teams (understatement).
I love Rick and wish him the best , its not his fault our front office gave him that ridiculous contract. If he were just upfront and honest about what was going on it would be a lot easier to root for him. I feel that all the secrecy and deciet makes it that much easier to forget about him. The front office is obviously preparing for life without Rick , so let’s cut our losses and move on and wish Ricky the best. The Isles Files? Is she serious ? I m sorry you didn t get out much in high school but c mon . CB is the only person qualified to offer any type of coverage and insight to this organization. Lets be honest about Rick , have Kate cover sci fi movie reviews and please for the love of god DO NOT even consider signing Satan as I ve read in some reports -
#16……to answer your question about how hard is it to fix a knee and that you see baseball players return faster then DP has…Well first off as a goalie in hockey, your knees are where you put all your pressure, espeically for a butterfly type goalie, you are constantly up and down, up and down…and what part of the body allows you to do this??? YOUR KNEES….As a baseball player your not putting the same type of pressure on your knees as a NHL Goalie, unless you are a catcher…DP has had multiple surgerie on his knee, and with scar tissue developing, it has delayed the healing process and also cause them to go in for another surgery…..So how long does it take for a goalie to rehab from knee surgery you ask, well the answer is, as long as it takes for you to get to 100%…..
Im a huge DP fan, but come to the realization that he most likely will never be 100% and he will most likely not return until the allstar break, just in time for the islanders to trade Biron at the deadline and allow DP to play maybe 20 games as ROLOSON’s backup..If that is the case, I am perfectly fine with that as long as he comes backs when he, the trainers and medical doctors all agree he is ready to come back….We have this guy tied up for to long to rush his return, because if he goes down one more time, he will BE DONE!!!(unfortunatley), and thats the reason we picked up roloson for 2 yrs and drafted 2 goalies, you can never have enought depth in the goalie department…
Best of luck to DP and his recovery, I am looking forward to your return and hopefully be part of our up and coming DYNASTY!!!!
PS, i have friend of mine who works at his rehab facility and i will leave you with, HE IS NOT ON CRUTCHES..Thats all the info I was able to get, all other was “confidential”….Good friend huh!!
I love how Chris is still stirring up ish. Hold em accoutable, CB.
Super job!
For cryin’ out loud…look at DiPietro’s career stats, do they they look like all-star numbers? Absolutley NOT!…and to call him a gamer…what a joke, HE IS A SUB PAR GOALIE at best and alot of you refer to him like he’s still a prospect, he’s a veteran player who has had a more than ample opportunity to prove himself as an elite netminder and guess what…he’s NOT, nor will he ever be. Get a grip and MOVE ON. I won’t even go into his playoff performance.
But he’s cute!
Seriously, Botta deserves so much praise for his role and Newsday’s young reporter is doing whatever she can to make a name. Rick came out against blog reports immediately after said blog has a GREAT piece on one of his replacements. Timely, eh? Rick pushes his story right after said blog made another goalie look good and he kinda blasts said blog?
Ego. Rick can’t handle sharing the spotlight. It’s gotta be tough on him now but…..ya know what? I don’t care. Fans want wins. You can’t give ‘em? Bravo Snow this time for getting someone who can. Rick is as important as any goalie prospect now…..he’s gotta earn a job by being better than our two netminders IF we care about winning. And he should do so with dignity…..so stay out of the papers unless you’re getting married or something. Leave the Islanders to those who are skating and coaching for them.
I think its great how CB is stirring it up, making the Isles accounable.
I don’t understand the hatred towards DP. Why do people get all up in arms when fans say DP is an AllStar? Was he not an allstar 2 years ago? Not saying he was the best in the league but he was playing stellar between the pipes to get the allstar acclaim.
The guy has great ability but had been stallwarted by injuries. I understand why fans would be frustrated but to go around talking like he isn’t a great talent as if he is subpar is player hatin in all its glory.
Give me a break, the guys a gamer but got hurt. I doubt he got hurt purposly, Its annoying to hear such redicilous judgments, give it up already.
I also noticed so many fans make the judgment that DP is an ego maniac. I would like to know who actually knows him personally to make a judgment like that on his character. I don’t know him so I have no idea how his real personality is. Just from what I read and hear but I have never heard DP say anything that sounds selfish. He sounds like a guy who’s confident in his abilities, I’ll give ya that but I don’t see where all these judgements come from unless you know him personally.
CB, in your opinion, is there any merit behind these acclamations? What’s your take, where do these fans get this notion?
Ahhh, some Isles news, need it daily! Good new!