It looks like the end for Rick DiPietro on Long Island. The former 2000 first overall pick was placed on waivers by the Islanders today.

It’s expected that the 31-year old veteran netminder will be assigned to Bridgeport (AHL). The Islanders are likely to recall Kevin Poulin. Poulin appeared in six games last year- posting a 2-4-0 record with a 3.04 goals against average (GAA) and .907 save percentage. In 31 appearances this year with the Sound Tigers, the 22-year old’s 15-13-3 with a 3.16 GAA and .903 save percentage.

If it is finally over for DiPietro, it’s a sad conclusion to his Islander career. When former general manager Mike Milbury took him with the No.1 selection in ’00, it set in motion the plan to trade former No.1 pick Roberto Luongo. Luongo was eventually moved with Olli Jokinen to the Panthers in exchange for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha. A deal that is frowned upon despite the Isles returning to the playoffs.

Ironically, Luongo never made the postseason in the Sunshine state. Instead, he had to wait until an even more perplexing five player deal with the Canucks that sent Todd Bertuzzi the other way to become successful. However, Islander fans always reflect back and wonder if had they kept Luongo, Milbury could’ve selected either Dany Heatley or Marian Gaborik. It’s hard to predict what would’ve happened for a franchise that hasn’t advanced past the first round since ’93.

Contrary to popular belief, DiPietro hasn’t been awful on the Island. When healthy, he’s been a capable No.1 goalie who guided the team to two postseason appearances. After posting a career high 30 wins in 63 games in ’05-06, club owner Charles Wang signed DP to a 15-year, $67.5 million extension. A contract that became the butt of jokes around the hockey world.

DiPietro delivered in his first year of the rich deal. He put together his best season- posting a 32-19-9 record with a 2.58 GAA, .919 save percentage and five shutouts. That included success against rival Henrik Lundqvist along with a first round showing. Even though they were ousted, DP was on the verge of becoming a star.

Unfortunately, injuries doomed him. It started with him missing the final seven games of the ’06-07 regular season and the first game against Buffalo due to what was termed ‘headaches.’ Having already suffered one concussion and a sprained knee, DiPietro became injury prone. He still returned the following year and appeared in 63 games- winning 26 games while recording three shutouts. However, he was forced to have season ending hip surgery. An injury which was mishandled by the Islander organization.

The Islanders brought DiPietro back too soon in ’08-09 and paid a hefty price. After returning in October the same year, he had a knee injury. Amazingly, he only missed two games. The club who made DP their franchise player didn’t use caution. Instead, they threw him into the fire and watched their goalie suffer another injury. He eventually needed knee surgery, missing 27 games. The Isles didn’t learn their lesson. They allowed him to return and it resulted in a swollen right knee costing DiPietro the final 41 games of the season.

The rest reads like a broken record. DiPietro had two more surgeries, including on his left knee following missing the final 22 games of ’09-10. Even after all the setbacks, a determined DP still came back wanting to earn his money. He just had terrible luck. A concussion limited him to 26 games in ’10-11, which sadly is the most he’s appeared in since ’07-08.

Current Islander GM Garth Snow acquired Evgeni Nabokov to supplant DiPietro as their No.1 goalie. Following just eight appearances last year, DP made only three starts in 2013 before the organization pulled the plug. He lost all three games.

If ever there was a sad tale of an athlete who won’t give up, it’s DiPietro. He is a competitor. With the Isles finally waiving him, the growing question is will they buy him out. It would prove costly for Wang, who’s a prideful man who doesn’t like to admit to mistakes. He bought out Alexei Yashin. The Islanders would still have to pay him.

Even as a rival fan, I feel sorry for DP. All he wanted to do was play the game he loves. Instead, injuries have derailed his career. We may never see him in the NHL again.