Rick DiPietro's new deal with the New York Islanders is 14 years short of what was originally discussed but the 23-year-old was nevertheless pleased to sign a $2.5-million US, one-year agreement Wednesday. GM Mike Milbury and DiPietro's camp were contemplating a $60-million, 15-year blockbuster deal but it fell through mainly because of insurance issues, sources confirmed Tuesday. DiPietro said talks would continue in January on a possible long-term contract. "I've made my feelings known that Long Island is where I want to spend my career and hopefully we can work something out," he said Wednesday at the U.S. Olympic camp in Colorado Springs. DiPietro, who turns 24 on Sept. 19, was 23-18-5 with a 2.18 GAA in 2003-04 with the Islanders. The Massachusetts native could be the U.S. starter at the Turin Olympics next February. He'll report to Islanders training camp when it opens Sept. 12 in Yarmouth, N.S. "It's great news that Ricky's in the fold," Islanders head coach Steve Stirling said in a statement. "He is a very important player for our franchise's present and future." DiPietro was the first overall selection in the 2000 NHL entry draft, becoming the first goaltender ever taken with the first pick. DiPietro was a member of the U.S. team at the 2004 World Cup. For his NHL career, DiPietro is 28-38-8 with a 2.71 GAA. DiPietro played for the United States on two under-18 teams and appeared twice in the world junior championship. He played in three games during the 2001 men's world championship and went 2-2 with a 1.68 GAA during this year's tournament in which the U.S. lost in the quarter-finals.











Song for the day - "Talking About A Feeling" - FRANK MARINO