BREAKING NEWS: Islanders To Buy Out Rick Dipietro

 photo courtesy of http://l1.yimg.com/

According to Newsday, the Islanders will place Rick Dipietro on waivers tomorrow with the intention of using one of the teams two compliance buyouts on him.  Part of the buyout, DP will be paid 1.5 million dollars per season for the next 16 years and it will NOT count against the Islanders cap.  The buyout will end DP's 13 year tenure with the team.

As the days started to tick from the time the deadline started some people started wondering if DP would be kept because the team would need his cap hit to get to the cap floor.  It is refreshing that the team is doing the right thing here and putting an end to the Rick Dipietro era in New York.

This is nothing personal to Dipietro who I happened to meet a few times in Bridgeport last season.  He is a nice guy, but his skills had deteriorated from injuries and he wasn't an NHL caliber goalie anymore, and based off his AHL numbers last season he was barely an AHL caliber goalie.

https://twitter.com/StapeNewsday/status/351868018386665473

Isles Not Interested In Thomas

According to reports, goalie Tim Thomas could make a comeback to the NHL this season after taking last season off as a sabbatical.

Thomas will be a UFA when free agency opens this Friday.  With the Islanders hole at goalie some may think Thomas would make sense for them.  However, tonight, Arthur Staple reported that the Islanders will likely not pursue Thomas as a free agent.

While I can understand staying away from him, given his age and how long he has went without playing.  Also the attitude he seemed to show while with the Bruins.  However, given the Islanders current situation in goal I don't think they should be so quick to dismiss a goalie, especially one with the skills of Thomas.

https://twitter.com/StapeNewsday/status/351821509364424704

Decision On DP Expected Within 48 Hours

According to Newsday, a decision from the Islanders if they will buy out goalie Rick Dipietro is expected within the next 48 hours.

Arthur Staple of Newsday had reported that the Islanders were shopping DP, but with Vancouver trading Cory Schneider today I have a hard time seeing the Islanders find a taker for DP's contract.

I think a buyout will happen, but with the Islanders you never know!  Shame on the brain trust of this team if they would rather pay DP than pay someone who could actually help the team.

Islanders Sign Milner

This morning, the Islanders signed goalie Parker Milner out of Boston College.

Milner led his team to the NCAA title and was MVP.

He is expected to play in Bridgeport this upcoming season.

Meet Cal Clutterbuck

This afternoon, the Islanders traded Nino Niederreiter to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Cal Clutterbuck and a third round pick in todays draft.

Prior to Matt Martin setting the record for hits in a season that record was held by Clutterbuck with 356.  Clutterbuck registered 10 points in 42 games last season.  The year before that, Clutterbuck registered 27 points and 103 PIMS in 74 games.