The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The topic for this week is Rick DiPietro's life-long marriage to the New York Islanders and Bobby Clarke making the headlines in sports again. He must be missing the attention. While Clarke didn't do anything wrong, he's caused a few GM's in the league to wonder why he offered Vancouver Canucks restricted free agent forward Ryan Kesler $1.9 million. Here's what that experts had to say. Jason Mandes: I love Rick DiPietro! I don't really care for his contract, but the Islanders obviously see something in him. They wouldn't have traded away Roberto Luongo if they didn't think he is the real deal. But then again, the Islanders also traded away Wade Redden, Todd Bertuzzi, Jason Spezza, Zdeno Chara and only have Alexei Yashin to show for it. Stu Lloyd will probably hunt me down if I keep bashing the Islanders, but they are such an easy target. Rick DiPietro is a great goalie. He is an Olympic caliber goaltender and not because Tom Barrasso and Ty Conklin are the only other alternatives for Team USA. He doesn't have the greatest record because the Islanders have struggled the past few seasons. I just hope he doesn't want a trade in the next 15 years. Brent Lethbridge: The only NHL GM who would publicly comment on this (DiPietro's) deal was Bob Clarke: The rest would only comment under the cloak of anonymity. The Islanders are betting the salary cap will continue to rise based on the NHL flourishing under the new agreement. On the other hand, how many 40-year-old goalies are there in the NHL. Naturally most GM's won't comment cause they are generally an uncreative bunch with hockey backgrounds and not really big on business savvy. The fundamental principal of market value is to "buy low, sell high". Most General managers prefer to follow a crowd and buy high and sell low ultimately leading to the year long absence of hockey and the imposition of rules to restrain the major cost of hockey operations. The Islanders could be redeemed and if the Boston Bruins keep spending $7.5 mil a year on pylons, a top five goalie averaging $4.5 mil a year looks pretty sweet. But that is yet to be proven. As for Clarke trying to get Kesler, its just a hunch. He'll go to a team that will make the playoffs this year. Kesler is a good sized kid and with a little ice time could turn into an asset. It's not like the Flyers are suffering for offence with (Simon) Gagne and (Peter) Forsberg, (Mike) Knuble, (Jeff) Carter, and (Mike) Richards already on board. Clarke needs a good 4th line center. Kesler fits the bill. Now get a goalie Bob. Tanner Brough: Charles Wang is a Meat Head. What was that guy smoking when he decided to sign DiPietro to a contract for 15 years. I'm starting to figure out why the Islanders fired Neil Smith, he must be the only sober person in that organization. Anyway, I just hope that everyone that's friends with an Islander fan will watch them carefully in the next few days, keep their shoe laces, and rope away from anything that could support their weight. As for Kesler and the Flyers, I love when players sign offer sheets. It hasn't happened for a while, but I remember how mad the Red Wings GM was when the Hurricanes offered Sergei Fedorov a four-year deal. Maybe the Flyers think Kesler is worth $1.9 million. He only played on the third line in Vancouver, and maybe the Flyers see a lot of potential, possibly second or first line. Even if they don't, and this is just to stir it up. I still love to hear Bobby Clarke talk to the media. He doesn't give a (explicit). Note: The Canucks matched the Flyers offer sheet to Kesler on Thursday.
