From: Newsday by Greg Logan
On a day when All-Star goaltender Rick DiPietro had a minor knee operation, Islanders coach Ted Nolan yesterday expressed his regret about the loss of backup goaltender and former DU star Wade Dubielewicz to free agency. Nolan took issue with a recent statement by general manager Garth Snow suggesting the coaching staff "lost confidence" in Dubielewicz at the start of last season because of his poor condition.
Speaking yesterday on Sirius satellite radio to a host known as "Bubba the Love Spunge," DiPietro made a surprise announcement that he was having a minor knee operation later in the day. But that was just the beginning of the Isles' communication problems.
In a recent interview, Snow said "there wasn't much confidence in the coaching staff to play [Dubielwicz]" the first half of the season because he wasn't in shape.
When Nolan was contacted for his reaction to the DiPietro situation, he made it clear that while he agreed with Snow about Dubie's initial lack of conditioning, he never lost confidence in his ability.
"It was news to me," Nolan said of Snow's statement. "I never lost confidence in Dubie. It's unfortunate Dubie didn't agree to terms, but for the things he did for this organization the last couple years, I want to thank him more than anything.
"Unfortunately, he's going to go somewhere else, and we wish him well ... As far as his conditioning coming in, he was hurt in the offseason and it took him a little while to get in shape. But as far as his devotion to the organization and the team, we couldn't have asked for any more.
"I was really appreciative of the things Dubie did while he was here. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have made the playoffs the year before. At the end of this season, we had up to 12 guys injured, and it was a very tough situation. He did everything humanly possible."
DiPietro's new backup is Joey MacDonald, whose contract includes a one-way provision for next season. Players on one-way deals can't go to the minors or return to the NHL without passing through waivers. Snow's multiyear offer to Dubielewicz included a two-way contract the first year that likely would have consigned him to AHL Bridgeport most of the season.
Asked if MacDonald's contract prevented the Isles from retaining Dubielewicz, Nolan said: "I'm not too sure if that had a bearing. But as far as I'm concerned, there was nothing wrong with his play."
Snow and Nolan clashed late last season when the GM disagreed with the coach's decision to start Dubielewicz against the Rangers on March 6 after DiPietro returned from missing two games for personal reasons. Snow was unavailable for comment last night.
Speaking yesterday on Sirius satellite radio to a host known as "Bubba the Love Spunge," DiPietro made a surprise announcement that he was having a minor knee operation later in the day. But that was just the beginning of the Isles' communication problems.
In a recent interview, Snow said "there wasn't much confidence in the coaching staff to play [Dubielwicz]" the first half of the season because he wasn't in shape.
When Nolan was contacted for his reaction to the DiPietro situation, he made it clear that while he agreed with Snow about Dubie's initial lack of conditioning, he never lost confidence in his ability.
"It was news to me," Nolan said of Snow's statement. "I never lost confidence in Dubie. It's unfortunate Dubie didn't agree to terms, but for the things he did for this organization the last couple years, I want to thank him more than anything.
"Unfortunately, he's going to go somewhere else, and we wish him well ... As far as his conditioning coming in, he was hurt in the offseason and it took him a little while to get in shape. But as far as his devotion to the organization and the team, we couldn't have asked for any more.
"I was really appreciative of the things Dubie did while he was here. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have made the playoffs the year before. At the end of this season, we had up to 12 guys injured, and it was a very tough situation. He did everything humanly possible."
DiPietro's new backup is Joey MacDonald, whose contract includes a one-way provision for next season. Players on one-way deals can't go to the minors or return to the NHL without passing through waivers. Snow's multiyear offer to Dubielewicz included a two-way contract the first year that likely would have consigned him to AHL Bridgeport most of the season.
Asked if MacDonald's contract prevented the Isles from retaining Dubielewicz, Nolan said: "I'm not too sure if that had a bearing. But as far as I'm concerned, there was nothing wrong with his play."
Snow and Nolan clashed late last season when the GM disagreed with the coach's decision to start Dubielewicz against the Rangers on March 6 after DiPietro returned from missing two games for personal reasons. Snow was unavailable for comment last night.
No comments:
Post a Comment