DiPietro Statement Released. . .Still Sore!

Rick DiPietro missed the third game in his conditioning stint.

The Islanders website released a statement late Monday night. . . another speed bump?
Here is the link to Islanders Authorized.

Posting (12/14/09 – 10:45 p.m.) - Islanders General Manager Garth Snow has issued a statement about goaltender Rick DiPietro and his updated rehabilitation process.

“Ricky has been seen by the team doctors and most recently a specialist,” Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said.  “To make sure we are taking the proper steps in his rehabilitation, we will seek an additional opinion and should have a time-line by the end of the week.”

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Posting (12/14/09 – 10:40 a.m.) - The Islanders have annouced that goaltender Rick DiPietro will not dress in the Sound Tigers’ game on Tuesday against the Portland Pirates.  He was originally scheduled to make his third and final start of his two-week AHL conditioning stint but due to soreness.  He is being evaluated today by team doctors.
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It would be wrong for me to say that this is unbelievable, because it isn’t. Unfortunately for Rick DiPietro, this may be something that sticks with him for the rest of his career.

All of a sudden Garth Snow is looking mighty wise for drafting two goalies within the first three rounds of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The move was highly questioned at the time. Maybe it was that Islanders fans didn’t want to believe that “The Franchise” wouldn’t ever return to normal.

While Snow issued the statement that the team is being cautious, it isn’t difficult to read between the headlines on this one. It’s a shame too. Not only because the now 28-year-old DiPietro signed a 15-year deal and may not fulfill it, but he fell right before he seemed to be reaching his prime. He went down an All-Star and he is returning(maybe) as a pieced-together repair job.

Maybe this is a “precaution”.

Maybe we are witnessing the beginning of the end.

Maybe he will find a way to play for another 10 years.

He’s been rehabbing his knee for 11 months. And yet still, there is “soreness” and more complications. My heart goes out to the goaltender – he still loves the game and this blogger can’t begin to imagine the frustration of it all. Not as a fan, but as the man.