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Long Island sign goalie for long deal

New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro, 25, has signed a 15-year deal worth $67.5 million, the longest contract in NHL history and the second longest in American professional sports behind the 25-year deal Magic Johnson signed with the LA Lakers in 1981. The length of the deal, which will end when DiPietro is 40 years old and is guaranteed if he retires prematurely because of injury, is unusual.

Well, almost unusual. Team owner Charles Wang has previously signed Russian center Alexei Yashin for 10 years and $87.5 million, then the longest and richest contract in NHL history. Apparently, Wang was not influenced by the criticism of the Yashin deal, which made the player practically un-tradable in the league, and repeated the gamble with DiPietro.

DiPietro`s contract breaks down to roughly $4.5 million per year. It almost doubles what he made last season, but makes him only the eighth-highest paid goalie in the league. Last year, DiPietro went 30-24-5 with a 3.02 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. In his four-year NHL career, DiPietro is 58-62-13 with a 2.85 goals-against average and only a .900 save average. The length of the contract has shocked many around the NHL, in light of the player`s statistics and the tough New York crowd he will have to perform in front for the years to come.