Dubie on Board!

In what is likely the most telling move the Islanders have made or announced since the whole DiPietro injury status mystery, the Islanders and Dubielewicz’s have agreed on a one year $500,000 dollar contract which is prorated paying Dubie that amount for the rest of this season. It’s only a matter of time now before the Islanders officially announce that DP is done for the rest of this season. Dubie will not be ready to play until this Saturday at home, so in the meantime Peter Mannino has been recalled from Bridgeport in his place.

Yann Danis who played a very solid game against the Rangers on Tuesday will face Boston tonight at the Coliseum. News on the status of MacDonald points to a recovery time frame of 2-4 weeks, with Greg Logan saying to expect more of the 4 week side of the time table.

This should certainly fan some flames, as many feel the whole DiPietro situation was mishandled from the start. It’s best that should DiPietro need a third surgery on his knee – he needs all the time to recover he needs as we want him to be better than 100% for the 2009/2010 season. You do not play Russian roulette with your “franchise” goaltender.

As far as coverage on tonight’s game – I will likely be a game time decision. I am still under the weather, despite a trip to the doctor.

It’s a shame too, as I would love to hear about the latest regarding the scheduled exhibition game next September in Kansas City first hand, including all of the turmoil and speculation behind that announcement.

Update 4:34pm

The Islanders have made an official announcement on Dubielewicz by way of a press release:

The New York Islanders have agreed to terms with goaltender Wade Dubielewicz on a one-way NHL contract for the remainder of the 2008-09 season. Dubielewicz must first secure his formal release from Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia where he began the season and clear NHL waivers before being eligible to play for the Islanders.

Dubielewicz has played in four NHL seasons – all with the Islanders – totaling a 16-13-1-1 record with a 2.55 goals against average and .920 save percentage. He played in 21 games with Kazan this season and finished with a record of 11-8-3 with a 2.77 goals against average.

In five seasons with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers – the Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate – Dubielewicz had a record of 59-53-8 with 13 shutouts, a 2.48 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. In 2003-04, he was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team and the AHL Second All-Star Team, won the Dudley “Red” Garrett Award for the AHL’s Top Rookie and shared the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Trophy for fewest goals against in the AHL with Dieter Kochan.

Dubielewicz made a lasting impression with the Islanders in the final week of the 2006-07 season. He led the team to four consecutive wins, including two in a shootout, to propel the Islanders to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Dubielewicz was 4-0-0 in that final week, with a 1.93 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage, earning him First Star of the Week honors from the NHL.

Dubielewicz attended the University of Denver where he had a standout colligate career. He earned WCHA All-Academic Accolades in 2000-01, was a Hobey Baker finalist in his junior year of 2001-02, won the WCHA’s Goaltending Title twice in 2000-01 and 2001-02 and was Named to the All-WCHA First All-Star Team once in 2001-02 and the All-WCHA Second All-Star Team twice in 2000-01 and 2002-03.