Rick DiPietro lands a new NHL job!

This is a new beginning for Rick DiPietro. And sure, life has been a roller-coaster for the former NHL goalie. 

However, this is a fun new turn for the 39-year-old who has confirmed to The Athletic that he will take another step into his second career this fall, as an NHL analyst within ESPN’s new talent roster. This is a great promotion for DiPietro, who was working as a morning show host with an ESPN station in New York.

However, the former goalie getting a new job makes a lot of people laugh. We are talking about the star prospect taken first overall by the New York Islanders in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. The one who signed a 15-year contract worth $67.5 million after the Islanders traded Roberto Luongo to make room for him. 

Yes, the one who was bought out of his deal in 2013 and will continue to get paid $1.5 million a year through the 2028-29 season. 

While this whole buyout contract situation has soured DiPietro from the NHL, the new job at ESPN sounds exciting to him. Though it all begins with a partnership with the NHL. 

However, DiPietro is focused on his new role, his new career. 

“I think it’s going to be as a studio analyst. We had a phone call yesterday, kind of just touching base, trying to figure everything out. We’ll have another meeting leading up to it, and kind of figure out the schedules.”

He also admitted to working at improving his relationship with hockey: 

“It’s getting better. Just because my son’s playing now, and I’m coaching. It wasn’t great for a while. Having my son now enjoy it, and realizing how much I love coaching. 

“Even just the little things: Practising a set play off a faceoff, and then to see it actually happen in a game. Instantly, I fell back in love with it.”

Cheers to a new start for DiPietro!