Over the past month or so, a lot of writers, bloggers and pundits that cover this team have been writing about the youth movement and how the youngsters will have to develop at a rapid pace for this team to make the playoffs this season. Some have even conjured up potential trades for players like Jay Bouwmeester. I, on the other hand, prefer to focus on what the Islanders currently have and not on what they could have.
With guys like Mark Streit and Doug Weight in the fold and the youngsters getting more of an opportunity, the Islanders offense this season is going to be hit or miss. However, unlike those same writers, bloggers and pundits who don’t give the Islanders a chance in hell in making the playoffs this season, I believe they do have a chance.
And that one small, almost minuscule chance this team has in making the playoffs doesn’t depend on any new player or any youngster.
It depends on Rick DiPietro.
It’s funny to me how a team with such a rich history like the Isles could have fans with such horrendous short term memory. They remember the bad trades and the years playing golf [I especially remember them] in May, but they don’t remember the small things. Before this team collapsed down the stretch last season, they were right in the thick of things. The reason why wasn’t because of an amazing offense or shut down defense. It was because of their goaltending. DP was an All-Star. And better yet, he deserved to be there; he had the numbers. They were actually better than a few Vezina finalists, one named Henrik Lundqvist.
However, after getting injured, the Isles went in a downward spiral and DP’s own unwillingness to take time off wound up hurting the team even more. If Wade Dubielewicz could have gotten in more games for an injured DP, who knows what could have happened. This season though, the Isles don’t have that kind of insurance and DP will be asked to not do the little things he’s done over the past few seasons that have hurt his team and his career. This season, DP will be asked to not be so aggressive with the puck and to take a day off every five games or so. Regardless of what the gregarious and confident goaltender may think, 65 games is more than enough for any starting NHL goaltender and by not playing 75, he won’t break down like he has over the past two seasons.
In the end, if he can stay healthy and on top of his game all season, this team will challenge for the final playoff spot. Once the playoffs begin, it’s a whole other ballgame.
But if DP is more preoccupied with chasing pucks away from fourth liners at the blue line in Montreal or playing past injuries in All-Star competitions than keeping this team on his back, the Islanders’ season will be over before it gets started.
Notes-
Don’t think I forgot about the second part of “These Kids Will be Alright.” Expect it on either Monday or Tuesday. I just felt the need to talk about our good ole buddy Rick DiPietro.
Photo courtesy of NHL Media
Posted under Offseason 2008
This post was written by Patrick Hickey, Jr. on August 1, 2008
DiPietro is solid. He is obviously the leader of the Isles, at least from an outside perspective. His ability to play the puck is outstanding and is such a help to the defense. But youalready know that haha.
He should never be to blame for misfortune on the Island. At least that’s what I think.
~Chris @ pittsburghpucktalk.com
Mr Hickey,
DiPietro played very well after the all-star break. The goals allowed were mostly plays he had no chance on. He also was in goal for the six game winning streak where the sixth game was a 1-0 win against Tampa Bay.
Only time he struggled was the three games when his grandmother passed away against Atlanta, Philadelphia and Tamps.
His final game against Montreal he was outstanding as was the game after the winning streak in NJ he held them in for two periods with forty plus saves.
One other stat that did not make to Greg Logan’s coverage who did not cover him at the ASG but convinced everyone with a misleading statistical argument DiPietro was hurt therefore he was struggling.
The Isles defense cut their shots by 198 last season.
NYI Fan Central: I love your matter of fact attitude that makes it seem like everything you say is the truth.
Let me ask you this, if DP wasn’t hurt last season, why did he have two offseason surgeries? Did those injuries just pop up after the Islanders didn’t make the playoffs this season?
C’Mon…
and as far as your comment goes about him being better after the all-star break, you’re smoking something. Before the All-Star break, he had a 2.57 GAA, a .911 save percentage and 19 wins in 44 games. After the break, he had a 3.36 GAA and a .886 save percentage.
Considering that, you are telling me that DP or any other goalie in the NHL could play that bad and not be hurt? Also your shots comment also smacked ya in the face because if the Isles cut their shots down by 192, DP’s save percentage should have went up and guess what? It didn’t.
The guy was hurt, plain and simple and if he wasn’t, he played horrible hockey.
Want to pick one?
What’s even funnier is the fact that you used his grandmother’s death as an excuse. He’s a professional athlete, those excuses only work in little league, high school and college.
That’s not to say I don’t like DP. When he’s on he’s amazing, but when he’s off and dilly dallying with the puck or being too aggressive, he hurts the Islanders.
Chris: you are right, he should never be to blame and I’m not playing his play when he’s healthy and got his head screwed on right. This season is going to be a tough one and Rico has to be on top of his game
Patrick,
On another note, are the Isles getting a new arena any time soon? Just wondering because I feel like it will be the oldest after Mellon Arena goes down. Is this the case?
~Chris @ pittsburghpucktalk.com
Mr Hickey,
I went back when Newsday started what seemed like a campaign against him and looked at the games after the ASG on IslesTV and if his play was the difference.
The highlights only take five minutes or so and convinced me of what I already knew from watching.
Those stats play like someone writing a player minus ten is automatically struggling on defense even though he did not make any mistakes to lead to the goal against. Kenny Jonsson had that pulled on him one year where Snow was letting in goals from the blueline and everyone was writing Jonsson is minus nine and killing the defense.
Not only did DiPietro play well most games in the second half but stole more than a few games after the ASG. You can win a game 5-4 or lose like he did at Minnesota in OT and play great.
I will answer your question by pointing out many players have surgeries and play hurt during seasons, DiPietro among them.
Your an old time fan, you remember the stories on how many surgeries the old Isles had to have after winning cups. Players play hurt, Guerin, Comrie also had surgery and were not being run down by Newsday or ripped for lack of production.
What I’m telling you is he did not play bad, he played well and kept the club in games and that the goals allowed were beyond what the goaltender could do in most cases.
I bring up the shots against because it’s true and that it’s something Newsday missed in it’s statistical discussion he plays too many games.
I’m not using his grandmothers death as an excuse but that was the only instance he struggled after the ASG.
Spend a half hour and watch the games starting with the Ottawa game after the all-star break. Where your done I guarantee you will agree he kept them in most games or had no chance on the goals allowed.
When you write things about his head being screwed on right it gives the impression you do not like him.
Of course if his name were Lundqvist and struggled as he did all three seasons no one at Newsday would be on a campaign to run him down.
For the record.
Lundqvist has suffered long stretches of average to below average play in all three seasons.
In 2005-2006, Lundqvist came back from the Olympic break to post a 5-5-3 record, including 0-3 with a 4.40 gaa and .835 save percentage in the playoffs.
In 2006-2007, Lundqvist started the season 5-5, with a 3.57 gaa and a .878 save percentage.
And finally last year, Lundqvist went through a stretch from mid-December to mid-February going 10-10-4, with a .889 save percentage.
If he was playing for the Isles Newsday would have been killing him, not hyping him for an award.
Of coursse no Eastern Conference goaltender faced less shots per game than Henrik Lundqvist.
Watch the second half games Mr Hickey, I bet you change your mind.
Thanks.
Pat being a professional anything is irrelevant to losing someone you love. Whether his loss messed up his game or not i cant say but losing someone you love far outweighs what one does for a living. So please cut him some slack there, we are not immortal unless we chose to be…
Marty all I’m saying is that you can’t use it as an excuse.
And LMAO to the comments of NYI Fan Central. I am an old time fan? I’m 25 years old!
On another note, I love how you immediately talk about DP playing hurt when in your last comment you said that Newsday was talking out of it’s arse.
And what is up with all the Lundqvist stats? I said DP was better than he was and you go on this crusade to say Lundqvist sucks? All I was saying there was that Lundqvist gets a ton of attention and DP’s numbers were better than his.
As far as the second half goes, I watched those games and I know what I saw. DP wasn’t the same player. Say whatever you want about the injured defense, but great goaltenders stop the puck and pick up the slack. Ever hear of Marty Brodeur NYI Fan Central or whatever your real name is? He’s een doing it for a few years now with a defense that belongs on the goddamn Charlestown Chiefs.
If DP wants to be the next Brodeur and get this team over the hump, that’s exactly what he’s going to have to do.
As far as my comments about “his head being screwed on right” I’m referring to his lack of discipline. The bad penalties and sloppy plays with the puck that hurt the team. Yes, he helps them out a lot, but a good 30-40 percent of the time, those plays could have been made by the defense.
I don’t have any negative feelings about DP. I actually think he’s the best player on the team. That’s why I wrote this column. I believe he needs to ask more of himself and play smarter.
Othrwise he’ll just be another good goalie.
NYIFanCentral, I’m a journalist who doesn’t have any particular feelings about certain players, I just write things the way I see it. Sure, I’m also a fan, but I try and be as fair as I can.
The way this team looks this season, the only way it stays in contention is if they get shutdown goaltending. That’s why DP has to be better than he has been.
I doubt anyone has to tell Ricky to be aggressive. It’s his nature and a big part of what makes him a good goalie. He can’t help himself. He’s going to get hurt from time to time.