Isles Seek To Guarantee They'll Never Be Competitive Again

According to Newsday, the New York Islanders offered goaltender Rick DiPietro a 15-year, $67.5 million contract. Read that again. Once more. OK. Now resume breathing, because the deal isn't going to happen, largely "because of astronomical insurance premiums, most of which would have to be borne by DiPietro. The NHL insures only up to five years on a contract; the rest is up to the player."

The article goes on to quote a "person with knowledge of the league's thinking" who offers the understatement of the offseason: "Given the nature of our contracts - 100 percent guaranteed for injury and not subject to renegotiation or reimbursement in the event of a trade - and the nature of the cap and how contracts are counted against the cap, I wouldn't think a 15-year contract would be the most prudent move under any circumstances."

So how did "Mad Mike" Milbury get his nickname, anyway?