DiPietro Is Top Pick In 2000 NHL Entry Draft
June 24, 2000 | Men's Ice Hockey
DiPietro, from Winthrop, Mass., was the top-ranked North American goalie by NHL Central Scouting. He went 17-3-5 with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage this season. He also set an NCAA record with 77 saves in one game.
After just one year of college, DiPietro made himself available for the draft and voided his remaining three years of eligibility. The decision was made to avoid going into a goalie-heavy draft next year.
Islanders goalie Roberto Luongo was the highest goalie chosen in draft history when New York took him with the fourth pick in the 1997 draft.
DiPietro was only the second American to be chosen top goaltender at the world junior hockey championship this year. The United States finished fourth, after he posted a 2-2-1 record, a 1.81 GAA and a .935 save percentage.
New York made room for DiPietro earlier Saturday by trading 25-year-old goalie Kevin Weekes to the Tampa Bay Lightning along with prospect defenseman Kristian Kudra. The Islanders got the Lightning's first pick, fifth overall.
"It's a fantastic honour," DiPietro said after stepping off the podium. "It's something I never imaged happening."
The trade of Weekes appears to mean DiPietro will be asked to play at the NHL level next season.
"It's a lot of pressure but it's something I really want," DiPietro said.
Islanders GM Mike Milbury is high on DiPietro.
"We're hanging a lot of reputation on this kid," Milbury said. "It's gutsy, and maybe crazy ... but we think he's a really special player."
