It wasn't all his fault, he did have way too much expected of him. I don't know if it was Homer giving him that contract or Snider forcing his hand (like Wang did to Snow with DP), but it was bad.

He can play well at times, but he just annoys me in general so I would hope the Isles go another route. There's enough nonsense that surrounds this team, I don't want anymore.
- eichiefs9

My understanding is the owner, after the Flyers were run out of the playoffs in 4 straight to Boston, said the Flyers would never again have bargain basement goaltending as an excuse for losing. He was quoted in the papers. He forced Homer to go after the best UFA goalie available. Then they gave him a ridiculous contract that even Lundqvist would have trouble living up to in Philly. With Bryz as the clear cut #1 for the next 9 years, there was no hope for Bob to ever be a starter, so he was sent to Columbus for draft picks. We know how well that worked out.

So the owner forced the GM to go after a goalie.
I don't know who is to blame for the dumb contract, I suspect both the owner and GM.
At least they got a buyout and corrected the mistake.
From a fan perspective, I don't really care what Comcast has to pay for their mistake.
I think the only thing saving the GM's job is he was forced into the deal by the owner.

They signed that guy who played at the end of the year for BP. Reiter or something. They signed him like a month ago. That would make him Nilsson & DP in BP.
- Vukota

Meh, it's easy to cut some bum like that. Just release him.

They have a lot of money, but they're too cheap to spend it.
- NYI44

The Islander fans need to give Wang a break. Wang saved the franchise at 1 point and has been losing money for the most part ever since. Now if the politicians and the voters had got behind his "Lighthouse" project, he more than likely would have continued to spend money on the team.
Now you can expect him to sell DiPietro's for a couple of assets.

Just my opinion but I think it would be best for you guys to cut ties with Dipietro for good.

Move on.

You have a great young team, and he is like an anchor.

Meh, it's easy to cut some bum like that. Just release him.
- eichiefs9

Again it comes back to DP being a distraction more then anything. They shouldn't have to cut the guy because DP should be long gone.

The Islander fans need to give Wang a break. Wang saved the franchise at 1 point and has been losing money for the most part ever since. Now if the politicians and the voters had got behind his "Lighthouse" project, he more than likely would have continued to spend money on the team.
Now you can expect him to sell DiPietro's for a couple of assets.
- Canhockeyfan

He cashed that chip a long time ago. Its not just the cheapness with him. Its all the other stupid and crazy things he has done (DP contract). I think we know how he runs things a little better then some outsider, no offense

Just my opinion but I think it would be best for you guys to cut ties with Dipietro for good.

Move on.

You have a great young team, and he is like an anchor.
- Marc D

Ya think!

Ya think!
- Vukota

yes, and long overdue

Again it comes back to DP being a distraction more then anything. They shouldn't have to cut the guy because DP should be long gone.
- Vukota

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see him as all that much of a distraction. He's in the AHL and he's not coming back. Yes, his cap hit is still there and the buyout talk will persist. But as far as the big club and it's prospects are concerned, I no longer see him as part of that, or a distraction to it.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see him as all that much of a distraction. He's in the AHL and he's not coming back. Yes, his cap hit is still there and the buyout talk will persist. But as far as the big club and it's prospects are concerned, I no longer see him as part of that, or a distraction to it.
- eichiefs9

I disagree by keeping him in the minors and keeping his cap hit on the payroll is a tell tale sign that they will never be serious about spending money. It would be a slap in the face to the fans if they move to BK with DP & Yashin wasting 5 or 6 mil on the cap. It would be a joke to be honest. Get rid of the guy and move on

yes, and long overdue
- Marc D

You'll get no arguments from us Islander fans that's for sure

I disagree by keeping him in the minors and keeping his cap hit on the payroll is a tell tale sign that they will never be serious about spending money. It would be a slap in the face to the fans if they move to BK with DP & Yashin wasting 5 or 6 mil on the cap. It would be a joke to be honest. Get rid of the guy and move on
- Vukota

I fully expect him to be gone by the time we're in Brooklyn. I'm really just saying I don't think it's a major issue that we're not buying him out at the first opportunity. There's still plenty of time to buy him our during this buyout period, so unless we're approaching the final days of the second period, I'm not going to make a stink about it. He's not affecting the Islanders on ice product in the short-term.

I fully expect him to be gone by the time we're in Brooklyn. I'm really just saying I don't think it's a major issue that we're not buying him out at the first opportunity. There's still plenty of time to buy him our during this buyout period, so unless we're approaching the final days of the second period, I'm not going to make a stink about it. He's not affecting the Islanders on ice product in the short-term.
- eichiefs9

Gotcha, fair enough

Arthur Staple ‏@StapeNewsday 4m

#Isles have no decision on buyouts (i.e., DiPietro) as of now. As for Nabokov, source says he is "probably" headed to FA next w
- Vukota

Well Snow better have something up his sleeve because if he thinks going into the season with RDP, Nilsson, and Poulin is OK he's completely out of his facking mind.

Poulin is almost all but guaranteed to be on the Isles roster as a backup next year, so it will likely be Nilsson and DP splitting time, unless there was some news on Koskinen coming back to play that I haven't seen.

I get the concern but I'm sure if DP has one of those nagging injuries start to come back that word will come down to Bridgeport for the Isles brass to shut him down for the season.
- eichiefs9

Really? It's nice to have faith.

Just my opinion but I think it would be best for you guys to cut ties with Dipietro for good.
Move on.

You have a great young team, and he is like an anchor.
- Marc D

It's not an opinion that would be a fact.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see him as all that much of a distraction. He's in the AHL and he's not coming back. Yes, his cap hit is still there and the buyout talk will persist. But as far as the big club and it's prospects are concerned, I no longer see him as part of that, or a distraction to it.
- eichiefs9

I really don't think it was a coincidence that the team started turning it around as soon as he was sent down.

Maybe we will drop back in the draft and pick Fucale.

Maybe we will drop back in the draft and pick Fucale.
- jimmc7722

Well Snow better have something up his sleeve because if he thinks going into the season with RDP, Nilsson, and Poulin is OK he's completely out of his facking mind.
- Cptmjl

I think their 'impasse' with Nabby suggests that Snow is not expecting Nabby to be the clear cut #1 this year. If he did, then I doubt a few dollars would come in the way for a team that needs to get to the floor.

I'd have to assume they have a series of potential plans and are reacting on how things work out with other teams. Bryz is now available, Backstrom and Bernier gone, Luongo should be bought out, Halak available etc etc. One thing I don't believe is that the Isles will enter the season with just Nilsson, Poulin and DP in the fold. There are a lot of options out there.

Xxkeaner17xX

I really don't think it was a coincidence that the team started turning it around as soon as he was sent down.
- Cptmjl

Yeah because he was a terrible goaltender, not because he was a distraction. Bryzgalov is an example of a distraction, in my opinion. He is an assclown.

- Cptmjl

Did I mention that Ryan Jankowski got a new job.

He will be responsible for all player evaluation and recruitment for Canada's national junior team and national men's U18 team development and selection camps, as well as evaluations with the U17 program.

- Cptmjl

You don't like Fucale???

I disagree by keeping him in the minors and keeping his cap hit on the payroll is a tell tale sign that they will never be serious about spending money. It would be a slap in the face to the fans if they move to BK with DP & Yashin wasting 5 or 6 mil on the cap. It would be a joke to be honest. Get rid of the guy and move on
- Vukota

Good points though I can't help but consider the big picture from Wang's point of view. The idea of paying him $1.5 mil over the next 16 years might not be nearly as good as betting against him playing a full career. The big question would be, can DiPietro make it another 5 years in professional hockey? If that answer is believed to be 'no', then the buyout is uncessecary. While I get the idea of perception around the league, I'd say that already got plenty of notice when they traded for Thomas last season.

I hope they do buy him out, but I'm just not so sure Charles will want to gurantee money like that when he may believe DP's days are numbered anyway.

Xxkeaner17xX

Yeah because he was a terrible goaltender, not because he was a distraction. Bryzgalov is an example of a distraction, in my opinion. He is an assclown.
- eichiefs9

I disagree on RDP but agree on Bryz