Has Rick DiPietro reached the end of the line with his NHL career?
DiPietro's attempt at making a comeback did not last long, as the beleaguered goaltender was released from his professional tryout contract with the Carolina Hurricanes' minor league team Tuesday.
According to the Charlotte Checkers' website, it was DiPietro who asked to be released from the contract, not the other way around. DiPietro reportedly called Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford to thank him for the opportunity but that did not feel he was in position to make his way up the depth chart.
DiPietro was waived last season by the New York Islanders, who subsequently bought out the remaining eight years on his 15-year, $67.5 million contract. DiPietro joined the Hurricanes organization last month after Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin went down with injuries.
The 32-year-old DiPietro, the top pick in the 2000 draft whose career has been hampered by injuries including multiple hip and knee surgeries, did not play well in his short time with the Checkers. DiPietro went 0-4-0 with a 5.18 goals-against average and .846 save percentage.
It was not immediately clear what DiPietro planned to do next or whether he has opportunities available to him elsewhere.
Both DiPietro and his agent, Ian Pulver, did not immediately return messages.
