The next stop in the career of 31-year-old Rick DiPietro could be the American Hockey League.
The New York Islanders put the goaltender on waivers Friday afternoon for the purpose of demoting him to the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The team is expected to recall Kevin Poulin to take his roster spot once he clears waivers or is claimed.
DiPietro has appeared in three games with the Isles this season, posting an 0-3 record and a save percentage of just .855.
The Islanders famously selected DiPietro first overall at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, despite having drafted Roberto Luongo with the fourth overall pick just three years prior in 1997. The team would deal Luongo to the Florida Panthers along with Olli Jokinen in exchange for Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish on the same day.
In 2006, the Islanders signed DiPietro to a 15-year, $67.5-million contract. While he would enjoy the best season of his career in 2006-07, posting a 32-19-9 record with a .919 save percentage and leading the Islanders to their only post-season appearance over the last seven seasons.
Since 2008, however, DiPietro's NHL career has been marred by injuries. The Winthrop, MA-born keeper has been kept to just 50 games since the end of the 2007-08 season.
DiPietro has posted a career record of 130-136-28 in 318 career games with the Islanders with a career save percentage of .902 and a career goals-against average of 2.87. He has eight years remaining on his contract following the 2012-13 season worth $36 million.
