DiPietro plays two in three; goalie crowd incoming
by Dominik on Jan 3, 2010 8:39 PM EST
in Roster Manoeuvres in the Dark
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Print[Update: On cue, DiPietro was indeed skating -- a lot -- with the Islanders this morning, and shared some good quotes on how he's feeling and what this road has been like. This situation just got real.]
Mike Fornabaio of the Connecticut Post has a nice write-up on Rick DiPietro's second start of the weekend for AHL Bridgeport. He allowed four goals on 39 shots in a 4-3 loss to Worcester.
Fornabaio reports the Islanders' goalie braintrust, Sudsie and Dunham, were happy with his progress -- and both remarked about the stark contrast between practice mentality and game "every shot matters" mentality.
Fornabaio also said DiPietro faced a lot of quality shots, and certainly looked like a guy who had no trouble with the constant movement required of a 60-minute game with a barrage of shots.
The Islanders are out West for a three-game stint Wednesday through Saturday of this week. Barring an injury setback in the morning, that's two healthy starts for DiPietro in three nights. Which means The Franchise with the 15-year deal is likely headed back to his NHL home. Which means we're now tantalizingly close to a Three Goalies' Company situation to spice up 2010.
Are you ready? Enjoy the ride.
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We're due for movement on the Biron front right about now
Botta called this one pretty well. He figured about January/February till DP would be almost ready. I figure about three weeks before he makes his first start.
Just for the record Rick faced 39 shots not 29 as posted.
NHL rules say he can only make 3 minor league starts per rehab so if all is well he can only make one more AHL start next weekend. I would think Rick is on course to join the Isles next homestand.
Rick mentioned he would agree to do more if asked to do so
Which is really kinda cool of him. I hope he gets a few more starts just to make sure. It’s good to see that even he knows it’s best for his future as well as the teams.
Just wonder what it will be like when he gets back. The dynamic in the locker room has to be radically different from when he last spent significant time in it.
Im glad about that, too- its good that Rick and the Islanders organization are putting his long term success as his top priority. As far as the locker room goes, Rick has spent more time with the team than I think we realize looking in from the outside. Im sure they are all really happy about him coming back.
Let Us Go, Islanders!
(Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 4, 2010 7:53 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks. Just saw that typo.
I thought he could make more than 3 starts, but the rehab is restricted to 14 days? Either way, we’ve got a situation soon.
Lighthouse Hockey: Eyes on Tavares, mug full of Moulson.
I might be wrong and it could be 14 days
but like you said either way a situation is building in goal. With the Olympic break coming I’d like to see DP back sooner rather than later. Rick needs to get some NHL starts and soon before another NHL season for him is lost. The Isles have too much invested in DP than to just let him sit idle. If Rick’s healthy give the work he needs.
I obviously haven’t seen his form in Bridgeport, but we’re fast approaching the point where I’d be more comfortable with him getting a Rollie Rest start instead of Biron. The schedule remains pretty compressed between this Wednesday and the Olympic break though, so I’m sure he’ll get his reps (healthy willing).
Lighthouse Hockey: Eyes on Tavares, mug full of Moulson.
That is exactly when Rick should play if at all- when Roloson needs a rest. In time, months from now, maybe he might get more than that. And next year, I STILL wouldnt make him full-out starter. Let him tandem with Roloson and gradually take the reigns- if he can. Roloson and Rick are a perfect tandem IMO.
Let Us Go, Islanders!
(Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 3, 2010 9:33 PM EST up reply actions
Three Starting Goalies
Ahhh, this is such a better year then last. Wasn’t it right about now that MacDonald went down and Snow was calling Russia to get Dubie back. Then we had to go with Danis after Columbus claimed Dubie. So going from 0 starting goalies to 3 is an improvement to me.
"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."
I find it remarkable how different Michael Fornabaios writeup of the game is compared to Katie Strangs over at Newsday.
Fornabaio says things like, “What beat him, it’s not like it beat him because he had to move. One was a giveaway, a good shot through a screen. One was a turnover, a deflection. One went off his stick and rolled toward the net. One was a backhanded wraparound that caught him in-between. They weren’t the goals of a guy in pain” and “He looked like himself. He got out to get the puck.”
On the other hand, Strang said things like, “DiPietro let in his most questionable goal of the day…” and “the last two goals given up may be an indication that his stamina still needs improvement.”
While Fornabaio says, “Rick DiPietro is now fifth in all-time goals-against average among Bridgeport goalies with 10 or more games (2.27). In 99 games, he’s 47-36-15. At first blush, it doesn’t look like he’ll be adding to those totals anytime soon.” Strang says, “his performance yesterday indicated he is still unready to return to the NHL.”
Who to believe?
Honestly, while I admit that I of course do want to hear that things are going well, I am not going to just believe anyhting positive and dismiss anyhting negative. I think my main sticking point in deciding which review to believe is that I simply do not think Katie Strang knows enough about hockey to make the kinds of judgments she makes. I really dont. This is a young girl who read “Fishsticks” for the first time a couple of months ago because she didnt even know the history of this organization (despite helping out on the Islanders Beat for over a year beforehand!!!) I think she is an average writer with sub-par hockey insight.
Let Us Go, Islanders!
(Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
Wow, those contrasts are stark
I tend to trust Fornabaio because he watches how that whole team performs all year (and year after year) and his analysis tends to call a spade a spade. Of course, as soon as I say that Strang has the more negative review. :)
But oddly enough, I’ve read less and less of Strang since Newsday went to its brilliant one-price-fits-all paywall.
Lighthouse Hockey: Eyes on Tavares, mug full of Moulson.
I trust Fornabio because I know he knows hockey and knows the Sound Tigers like the back of his hand. I do NOT have that kind of confidence in Katie Strang… not even close. If it was the other way around and he was the one being negative and she was being positive I would still believe him- thats my point. I dont care how much Chris Botta pats her on the head, she has not written anything to impress me. The only things I like from her are interviews and straight up “this is wht happened” type reporting. What makes her opinions- like whether Rick is ready to be an NHL backup- worth so much? Or anything, really? All she has going for her is her open line to the Isles… but IMO she doesnt even use THAT the right way.
Let Us Go, Islanders!
(Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 3, 2010 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
NHL speed is the only way DP is going to get ready
If knees are good I say get him in soon. Roloson is doing a great job with a underskilled team but the return of DP is too important than to just let him get the routine start when Roloson needs a rest. Rick needs NHL work. Don’t worry about making the playoffs this year as the Isles won’t go far anyway.
I just see no need to rush him
Focus on long-term. Build him up steadily for the possibility of being 1A/1B next year. It’s going to be a long time (if ever) before I trust he can play 65 NHL games a year again.
Lighthouse Hockey: Eyes on Tavares, mug full of Moulson.
The longer you wait the more you'll ask for trouble
You don’t see too many athletes and better yet star athletes come back with almost two full seasons away from the game. Rick left the 2007-2008 season with time left and only appeared in 5 games last year. The best way to get him ready is get him as many starts this year as possible. His knees and hip aren’t going to get NHL ready sitting as a backup to Roloson. Don’t worry about this seasons results. Isles need to get DP back in form. Rick’s no kid anymore and longer you wait the more you’ll increase the chance Rick may never come back. While the Isles are a underskilled team now is a pretty good time to figure out what investment you have. You can’t stale this much longer.
You don’t see many athletes go through this, period. But I think we’re in favor of similar timelines.
To me, all of that concern about if he can get his peak form back, whether his athletic prime years are going to be wasted — that’s all just part of his reality now. If he can approach something near that form again, yay for us. But there’s no way he gets there if they aren’t conservative this time around (as they have been thus far, surprisingly). I’m just operating from the thought of what gives him the best chance to be healthy and useful for the next 2-4 years, as well as from the assumption that any real setback now (3-6 weeks with a groin, etc.) just pushes him further away from ever having a shot at being the foundation again.
Lighthouse Hockey: Eyes on Tavares, mug full of Moulson.
I think this day and age your going to start seeing more goalies last till nearly 40 without as much of a decline statswise. Its been happening for most of this decade that older goalies don’t tend to drop off like they used it. Maybe a few hints from Rollie will help.
"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."
USA BEATS SWEDEN 5-2
USA faces Canada for the gold Tuesday night at 7:30 PM.
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