Rick DiPietro says he’s expects to be ready for Islanders training camp when it begins next month.
“Yes I have been skating. My legs feel great and I am looking forward to taking part in Training Camp this season,” DiPietro said in a Twitter conversation with fans on the Islanders’ website.
The oft-injured goalie with the 15-year contract has played 13 games the past two seasons. His best season was 2006-07, when he went 32-19-9 with a .919 save percentage in 62 games, right after he signed his long-term deal.
Asked if he expected to play at least 30 games this season, DiPietro answered, “I always set those goals to be 100 percent healthy. Right now I’m not putting a number on how many games I’m going to play because it could be more. All I’m concentrating on taking part in a normal Training Camp and then the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”
Addressing his rehab from his most recent knee injury, the 28-year-old wrote, “Its been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I’ve felt helpless, watching my teammates play and know that there isn’t anything that I can do to help this team win. The way I look at it now is that I’ve grown as a person and use it as a motivating factor for me to return.”