With multiple knee surgeries and multiple hip surgeries in the past 5 years, DiPietro is no longer capable of playing at an elite level (if he ever was before). This was showcased last season, when in 26 GP he struggled moving post-to-post and looked incredibly slow getting in and out of the butterfly. He posted marks of 3.44 GAA and an .886 SV%…all while being completely healthy.

To me, the Isles success does indeed rest on the health of Rick DiPietro – but they don’t need him to stay healthy, they need him on IR. The team lost 18 of DP’s 26 games last season, so the sooner they can get to a combination of Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov the better. That will be the quickest way to success.

The NYI should score between 250 and 300 goals this year. If the defense stays reasonably healthy and plays well and the goaltending is solid, this team should make the playoffs and maybe even make some noise.