Biron Signing Raises Serious Questions About DiPietro's Health

The New York Islanders have been mum on the subject of Rick DiPietro and his injured knee and hips since the goaltender was shutdown for the season back in January. Since then, rumors have floated around the internet of fans seeing DiPietro still on crutches as recently as May and other unfounded rumors. Nothing has been confirmed and no official word has come from the team aside from repeating their statement that 'DiPietro will be with the team at training camp.'

After yesterday's signing of Martin Biron to a one-year deal valued at $1.4 million -- can TSN please, please stop using the phrase "voted on/off the island" in their headlines? -- the team doesn't need to release any statements about their oft-injured star netminder. They sent the media and fans a message as bright as a billboard in Times Square indicating that DiPietro's return may be anything but soon or smooth.

On July 1, the Islanders signed former Oilers starter Dwayne Roloson to a two-year deal. At the time, the move looked like a sensible insurance policy in case DiPietro's rehab went awry or he got hurt again. Roloson would be a solid 1A or 1B to split time with DiPietro at the very least.

The addition of Biron yesterday -- another potential 1A or 1B -- showed that DiPietro may not even be in the team's short term plans. Likely it will be Biron and Roloson splitting time and competing for the starting job in the fall while DiPietro takes an extended rehab stint and -- this is just speculation -- may not be ready until sometime in 2010.

For Biron, this contract may be a stepping stone. He's coming off a tumultuous season in Philadelphia where he split time with Antero Niittymaki for most of the year. Given one season to prove to the league that he still belongs as a starter and a bigger, more lucrative contract could be on the horizon. The one-year deal also serves the Islanders' purposes well as they already have Roloson under contract for a two years and could have a healthy DiPietro by 2010-11 although, I guess, you never know.

Now, the Islanders have three legitimate starting goaltenders on the roster and just drafted two more in June. It's safe to say that as former goaltenders themselves both GM Garth Snow and coach Scott Gordon are well aware of the importance of a good netminder.