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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 3060154" data-attributes="member: 2012">Hockey world reacts to DiPietro dealCanadian Press9/12/2006 5:14:07 PMDumbfounded. Shocked. And lots of laughter.The hockey world was abuzz Tuesday in the wake of Rick DiPietro's staggering US$67.5-million, 15-year contract with the New York Islanders.''What's my reaction? Amazement,'' said a Western Conference GM who requested anonymity.The Islanders believe DiPietro is destined to become a top-five goalie in the league and will be a bargain at $4.5 million a year.Most other GMs weren't buying it Tuesday. They feel there's very little argument in favour of signing any player in the NHL to a 15-year contract, let alone a goalie yet to prove himself.''Let's just say DiPietro takes off and he becomes a star and a top-five goalie and you have to pay him $7 million a year, let him go to another team if you can't afford him because you can get a pretty damn good goalie at $4 million every year,'' said an Eastern Conference GM.''They're trying to protect themselves from that $7-million salary but quite honestly, it's an absolutely ridiculous thing to do,'' added the GM. ''From an organization's point of view, it makes absolutely no sense.''The NHL's head office can't be thrilled about the deal but there's not much commissioner Gary Bettman could do to stop it even if he wanted to.''There's nothing in the constitution that says you can't sign a player for 15 years,'' said an Eastern Conference GM.It's believed the league stepped in last year when former Isles GM Mike Milbury first tried to sign DiPietro to a $60-million, 15-year contract, discouraging the NHL club from going forward with it. This time, according to a source close to the talks, owner Charles Wang was directly involved and wasn't going to take no for an answer.''Clubs are free to make their own decisions within the confines laid out in the collective bargaining agreement and other applicable league rules,'' NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Canadian Press. ''Some decisions turn out well, others not so well.''Time will tell whether this will be a good decision or a bad one for the Islanders.''A real danger in the longevity of the deal is that no one knows what kind of collective bargaining agreement the NHL will have in the future. The current deal expires in five years.''I don't know the benefit of a 15-year contract,'' said Philadelphia's Bob Clarke, the only GM contacted by CP who would go on the record on the subject. ''But they must have their own thoughts on that. They also signed (Alexei) Yashin to 10 (years). For us, in today's world, we think five years is a long contract. . . .''But if DiPietro turns out to be one the best goalies in the league, then it's a hell of a deal.''Now the Islanders have two monster contracts they're stuck with after Yashin signed on for $87.5 million over 10 years in 2001. The current CBA prohibits any contract from being renegotiated.''DiPietro's an Islander for life because they're never moving that contract,'' said a Western Conference GM. ''You can say it's only 4.5 but it's 4.5 until the cows come home. Obviously if he plays at a high level they've got themselves a bargain I guess but if he doesn't, you have him on the books for a lifetime.''Is he one of the 10 best goalies in the league today? I would say no right now,'' he added. ''Unless his career is ready to take a big step forward, you've yourself an average goalie for $4.5 million a year. And you've got him for the rest of your life and Yashin for the rest of your life. Geez.''DiPietro's contract is guaranteed and he will be paid in full should he retire because of injury. If he ends his career otherwise before the deal expires, he would forfeit the remaining dollars. That would be the only out for the Islanders.Another possible concern is that you may have a 25-year-old goalie that now lacks motivation. He's just won the lottery.''How's he going to react to all this?,'' wondered one GM. ''He's never going to have another negotiation in his career, how motivated will he be? If this Rick DiPietro isn't a completely passionate athlete, he's going to sleep. He has to, that's just human nature.''</blockquote>

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