On this day 10 years ago, the New York Islanders and first overall draft pick in the 2000 draft agreed to a 15 year $67.5 million contract. A deal that wouldn’t be eclipsed in length for another five years. When the New Jersey Devils decided the NHL needed to restrain GMs and owners from being absolutely reckless with their team’s money and the spirit of the salary cap.
The Isles drafted DiPietro thinking they had their cornerstone goaltender, a game changer between the pipes. But DiPietro was never anything more than average. Both before and after he signed that monster deal.