Rick DiPietro

Richard W. DiPietro Jr. (born September 19, 1981) is an American sports talk radio host, analyst, and former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played parts of 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), spending his entire career with the New York Islanders. 

DiPietro is a one-time All-Star, being named one in 2008. Internationally, DiPietro played for United States, playing for them at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Due to him signing a massive 15-year, $67.5 million contract but suffering through injuries and not living up to his contract caused many to label him as a draft bust.

He is the co-host of "DiPietro and Rothenberg" with Dave Rothenberg on ESPN 98.7 FM in New York. On June 29, 2021, he became an analyst for ESPN.

Career
Before playing in the NHL, DiPietro played parts of one year with the Boston University Terriers of Hockey East. He had a successful time with the Terriers. He finished his rookie season, scoring 30 goals and recording 32 assists for 62 points in 40 games. For his performance, he was named the All-Hockey East Rookie Team, All-Hockey East Second Team, Hockey East Rookie of the Year, and the New England MVP.

He was drafted 1st overall by the New York Islanders in the 2000 NHL entry draft. With the selection, DiPietro became the first goaltender to be selected 1st overall. On July 25, 2000, DiPietro signed a three-year, entry-level contract to join the Islanders. Before he was able to play, he suffered an injury and was sent down to briefly play for their AHL-affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers. On January 27, 2001, the Islanders called him up and he made his NHL debut, stopping 29 of 31 shots in a 2–1 loss against the Buffalo Sabres. During the game, DiPietro recorded an assist on a Dave Scatchard goal. On February 16, he stopped 24 of 26 shots and earned his first NHL career win in a 4–2 victory against the Edmonton Oilers to earn his first NHL win. On October 11, 2003, he stopped 13 of 13 shots in a 6–0 win against the Buffalo Sabres to earn his first NHL win. 

On September 12, 2006, DiPietro signed a notorious fifteen-year, $67.5 million contract to stay with the Islanders. This broke the record held by former teammate Alexei Yashin's ten-year, $87.5 million contract signed on September 5, 2001. On March 5, 2007, DiPietro broke Félix Potvin and Billy Smith's tied record for most saves in a game after saving 56 shots in a 2–1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers. His record was held until it was later broken by Dwayne Roloson in 2009. On March 13, 2007, DiPietro was run into by Montreal Canadiens player Steve Bégin and suffered a concussion. He missed four games and then got concussed again upon his return. In 2007, DiPietro decided to get surgery to fix a torn labrum in his hip. The next season, Dipietro was selected to play in the All-Star game. DiPietro ended up re-injuring his hip during the skills competition at the All-Star game. He played out the rest of the season and had another surgery on his hip.

On June 3, 2008, DiPietro announced on a radio show that he had surgery to fix meniscus on his left knee and was out for four games. After starting two games, DiPietro left the game was another injury. On November 1, it was announced that DiPietro had to have another knee surgery done to fix his meniscus. On December 26, 2008, he made his return in a 4–1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. DiPietro recorded an assist off of a Kyle Okposo goal and also broke Billy Smith's Islanders record for most points by a goaltender. On January 20, 2009, it was announced by Islanders general manager Garth Snow that DiPietro had post-surgery swelling in his right knee and was going to miss the rest of the 2008–09 season. On February 13, 2010, the Islanders placed him on injured reserve after he suffered swelling in his left knee. He was forced to miss the rest of the season because of it. On February 2, 2011, DiPietro played his first game as the main starter for the Islanders. In the game, he got into a goaltender fight against Pittsburgh Pittsburgh's Brent Johnson. DiPietro had his jaw broken and was concussed from one punch as he was out for weeks after to recover. On December 15, 2011, DiPietro injured his groin and needed surgery which made him miss the rest of the season. On February 22, 2013, the Islanders placed DiPietro on waivers and he was sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers. On July 1, 2013, the Islanders decided to buyout the rest of DiPietro’s large contract.

DiPietro decided to retire from playing professional ice hockey in 2013.

References

 Other websites 

Category:1981 births
Category:Living people
Category:American ice hockey goaltenders
Category:Bridgeport Sound Tigers players
Category:Charlotte Checkers (2010–) players
Category:New York Islanders players
Category:People from Lewiston, Maine
Category:Sportspeople from Massachusetts