Rick DiPietro may very well have seen his last start in the National Hockey League on Tuesday night after being placed on waivers Friday. (Photo: Dinur Blum/flickr)

Well, if you weren’t expecting it to happen, it happened.

The Islanders have taken their first step in waving goodbye to their former franchise goaltender by actually waiving him — placing him on them, that is.

Yep. Rick DiPietro is on waivers. Let that sink in for a second.

…

Good? Good.

The announcement came this morning and, according to Arthur Staple, comes with the intent of sending DP to the minors and recalling Bridgeport goalie Kevin Poulin. KP has a .906 save percentage and 3.16 GAA through 31 games played, and most recently coughed up four goals en route to a 5-3 loss to Providence (though he also made 36 saves). DiPietro’s arrival in Bridgeport may (oh, hell — will) put more pressure on ECHL call-up Kenny Reiter to perform well and consistently.

While ultimately, making this move is in the Isles’ best interest, I can’t help but feel sorry for the guy. His journey in the NHL has pretty much come to an end, and while yes, he was stubborn for trying to come back when it was clear he wouldn’t be able to… you can’t fault him for trying. How would you feel as a former No. 1 draft pick, knowing that no one had any more faith in you, but still trying to make it right? How would you react, being offered millions of dollars and job security for the almost the next quarter of your life? Pretty sure I would have signed on the dotted line, too. And despite everyone’s snarking and naysaying, he didn’t look like a perpetually broken goalie for at least parts of his two starts.

I wish I would’ve seen DiPietro redeem himself and become the goalie that everyone had imagined he’d be. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that will happen anymore. But maybe this is the clean break the Isles need. Now, they can focus on the future for real.

Forward Keith Aucoin is the Isles’ newest waiver addition. (Photo: M Richter/flickr)

• The Islanders have sent center Ryan Strome back to Niagara for the remainder of the season. It’s a little bit surprising, given that they could have taken the opportunity to keep him for five games. However, a bit more time in the O couldn’t hurt his game. D Griffin Reinhart was also sent back for some more junior experience.
• The Isles also sent D Jon Landry back to Bridgeport. Apparently he didn’t have such a good showing during the Isles’ blue and white scrimmage last night, and with Lubomir Visnovsky’s arrival coming in early February according to Arthur Staple, there may be little room for him as is. So it’s back to the A for him.
• Speaking of the scrimmage, the Bridgeport squad (Team White) won regulation, 5-3. Nino Niederreiter showed the big club a bit of what they’re missing with an excellent goal on Evgeni Nabokov. Johan Sundstrom, Scott Campbell, Aaron Ness and were the other Sound Tigers scorers, while Matt Moulson (two goals) and Kyle Okposo were the Isles’ (Team Blue) goalscorers. The Blue team would eventually pull out the 6-5 comeback win during the five-man shootout on goals by Frans Nielsen, Moulson and Michael Grabner.
• Niederreiter and Matt Donovan were also named to the AHL All-Star game. Niederreiter leads the Sound Tigers with 19 goals and 36 points overall, while Donovan has posted 19 points in 37 games.
• Center/wing Keith Aucoin was acquired off waivers by the Islanders earlier today. Aucoin, 34, went undrafted and spent four seasons playing at Norwich Academy before going pro with the B.C. Icemen of the United Hockey League in 2001. He bounced around the AHL and debuted in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005-06 (and has a championship ring from that Stanley Cup year, though his name isn’t engraved on the Cup itself), and has also played on the Washington Capitals and within their organization. In 102 career NHL games, Aucoin has eleven goals and 26 assists, for a total of 37 points. He’s small at 5-foot-9, but a hard-working forward who will at least provide the Isles with some depth and semi-veteran experience.

That’s all for now. Until next time.

Matt Donovan has been recalled by the Islanders from Bridgeport.

The young American defenseman leads Sound Tigers D in scoring and is second overall on the team with 42 points. It’s unclear whether or not this is because of an injury on the blueline, but either way, it’ll be exciting to see what Donovan can do on the Island, in what some believe will be a preview for next season.

Welcome, Matt!

(Photo: Andrew Gardecki/flickr)

Micheal Haley has been recalled to the Islanders on an emergency basis.

Looks like Casey Cizikas is out with that dreaded vague “upper-body” injury, leaving a spot for Haley to bust right through again. This is bad news for Isles and CC fans, but it’s also good news, seeing as Haley always brings that extra edge to his game. We can use that against the Bruins and division rival Devils.

Welcome back, Micheal!

Kevin Poulin is seeing some more Island time after Evgeni Nabokov left Tuesday night's game with an injury. (Photo: Cassie Madonia/flickr)

Kevin Poulin was recalled on loan from Bridgeport on an emergency basis, after Evgeni Nabokov left last night’s game against the Penguins with a lower-body injury at the end of the second period. In six games played this season, Poulin is 2-4 with a 3.04 GAA and a .907 save percentage.

Other important stats about the Isles after their win last night:

• John Tavares has 75 points on the season, figuring into 42.1% of the Isles’ 178 goals. Tavares is the first Isle to record 75 points in a season since Ziggy Palffy (41%) in the 1997-98 season.
• Josh Bailey recorded his first three-assist game last night. He also has a five-game points streak, upping the ante a little bit in the final few weeks of the season.
• Steve Staios is inching closer to 1000 games played. He played #996 last night.
• Last night’s win ended a 13-game winless streak in Pitt, and their first win in Consol Energy Center.
• Matt Moulson has played every single game in his three seasons as an Islander. This season, John Tavares, Frans Nielsen and Mark Streit join him as being the only Isles not to miss a game so far, which is impressive in a season full of injuries left and right (as usual). Moulson in particular has gutted out quite a few moments of pain on the ice, so props to him.

There’s other good stuff in there, but those are the stats that really caught my eye. It’s nice to see the secondary scoring showing its face, even though it would have been a little more welcome earlier in the season… still, can’t complain. At least the Isles are giving us some entertainment.

(Photo: ndotetim/flickr)

The Islanders and OHLer Mike Halmo have agreed to terms on an entry-level contract.

The 20-year-old winger hails from Waterloo, Ontario, and in his four-year OHL career has shown improvement statistically. In his current season with the Owen Sound Attack, he has posted 84 points (40 G, 44 A) in 64 games played. (Yow.) If you look at those stats, you’ll see that his PIM have also spiked dramatically. He even has his own section on hockeyfights.com and a “fight card” on dropyourgloves.com, leading me to believe he can be a Milan Lucic-type player- an “enforcer” who can score. Matt Martin has attempted to fit that mold currently, but we can always use some more toughness, even if it does come in a smaller package (5’10″, 190 lbs.).

Unfortunately, Halmo has also had the league come down on him for reckless hitting. Two years ago, this hit led him to be suspended for five games. Though he’s known for his hitting (as this blog suggests- look further toward the bottom in the “Honorable Mentions” section), it’s unclear to say whether this could put a damper on his appeal for me. I mean, plenty of players have slipped up in the past, so I’m hoping this was just a very bad decision on his part and not a recurring trend.  (Fun fact: Halmo also played with current Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw, who is quickly becoming a solid forward in Chicago. The two played very well together, so I’ve gathered.)

(And as I write this, I find this article, which mentions in passing Halmo’s running of the opposing goalie during a delayed-penalty situation in a Memorial Cup playoff game. Oh, nice. Isn’t the Internet fun?)

As far as I can tell, this can go either way. We can be getting either a scoring forward who leaves the feet every once in a while, or a  ”plug” who can pot some goals. Considering his “fight card” for this season isn’t quite as full as in seasons past, it looks to me like Halmo could be reforming (but the penalty minutes…), but who knows for sure? This kid is still relatively unknown to most Islanders fans, so he’s got that much going for him… for now.

Notes: Micheal Haley was recalled from Bridgeport for tonight’s game against New Jersey. Casey Cizikas and Matt Martin are both out with the flu. Oh, goody. Look for Michael Grabner to make his re-appearance in the lineup as well.

Sigh.

Well, Al Montoya is back out of commission. The Islanders officially announced his ailment as an “upper-body” injury, and listed him as day-to-day. Anders Nilsson has been called up in his stead.

Is this the concussion talking? Probably. And it makes me very sad, and worried. For it to still be bothering him now (if in fact, that is what it is- though you can’t get more “upper-body” than the head)… let’s just say, it doesn’t bode well for Monty or for the current starting goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, who will need a rest sooner or later. And Nilsson, bless him, had a 4.85 GAA and .849 save percentage in two starts on the Island this season… not exactly prime stats, but he’s still really young yet. (But seriously, let’s hope Nabokov isn’t next in terms of getting hurt…)

I just want Monty to be better. Is that too much to ask?!

Bye bye, Brian. (Photo: Robert Kowal/flickr)

Per the Isles’ website, winger Brian Rolston has been placed on waivers.

The 39-year-old was drafted the same year I was born (how’s that for dating myself AND him), and in 49 games with the Islanders he has posted four goals and nine points total. He’s also a -12. Definitely not what the Islanders had expected of him, but Arthur Staple of Newsday speculates that a team may well pick him up before the day is done. Which brings this question: Why waive him when you might have been able to trade him for at least a couple of picks or prospects (or both), if not a replacement for him on the third line?

Then again, with David Ullstrom being called up to the Island, perhaps that question has been answered. Ully had posted four points in 14 games played at the beginning of the season, but after sustaining a concussion in a game against the Winnipeg Jets (yeah, the same team that put Monty on the shelf for over a month), he spent some time recovering and then went back to Bridgeport and… well, never came back up. Until now. You can expect him to take Rolston’s spot on third-line wing with Martin and Cizikas, and seeing as that’s been more of an energy line than our fourth-line has been… yeah, I’m excited to see how this will turn out.

Until next time.

I’m slightly worried.

Tim Wallace has, yes, slammed his way into my little heart. And the Isles have now placed him on waivers.

The 27-year-old scored only one point-an assist- in 31 games on the Island after being called up, but his physical play had me in love. I just hope no one grabs him and that he just goes right down to Bridgeport and stays in our farm system.

Also, Ty Wishart was sent back down to Bridgeport, which has me wondering… daaa-dum, daaa-dum… is a certain… defenseman… who wears… number 3… coming back from injury? (GOD, I HOPE SO.)

We shall see.

Ty Wishart. (Photo: Cassie Ryan-Madonia/flickr)

According to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers website, forward Rhett Rakhshani has been returned to the AHL. The Islanders have also called up defenseman Ty Wishart.

Rakhshani had played five games with the club this season, scoring no points but creating great energy on a line with Josh Bailey and Matt Martin. The line had been cited at least once for producing the team’s best chances on offense.

Wishart, meanwhile, has not played yet with the Islanders this season, though after being traded to the Isles from Tampa Bay in the deal that included goalie Dwayne Roloson, he played 20 games, had five points and a +5 rating. On the Sound Tigers, Wishart has 15 points in 48 games (4 G, 11 A). Given the Islanders’ defensive woes since Travis Hamonic’s injury, it’ll be interesting to see what he can contribute.