Former Canucks Prospect Michael DiPietro Finally Gets

Sometimes a hockey career takes the scenic route. Michael DiPietro knows something about that. At one point, the former Vancouver Canucks prospect was considered a pretty exciting young goaltender. He had talent, people were watching, and there was reason to believe he might eventually become an NHL goalie. But the road from promising prospect to established NHL player is rarely as simple as it looks from the outside.

Now, at 27, DiPietro is getting another opportunity with the Boston Bruins. He's expected to start against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, according to reports, which would give him his second NHL appearance of the season.

DiPietro didn’t win his first start of the season, but he played well enough.

He didn't get much reward for his first start. DiPietro stopped 26 of 29 shots in a 4-1 loss to Minnesota on October 3. The numbers weren't terrible, but the result wasn't what he wanted. He's still looking for his first NHL win.

Here's what makes his story interesting. DiPietro hasn't spent the past few years waiting around for somebody to give him a chance. He's been working at his game, and last season with the Providence Bruins, he put up some outstanding numbers in the American Hockey League. In 45 appearances, he recorded a 1.91 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.

Those are the kind of numbers that tell you a goalie is doing something right. They don't guarantee NHL success, of course. The AHL and NHL are different worlds, and getting an opportunity is one thing. Holding onto it is another. Still, it's encouraging to see a player keep working long enough to give himself another shot.

Sometimes NHL goalies take some time to develop. Is DiPietro one of those?

We sometimes talk about prospects as though their careers have an expiry date. If they're not established by a certain age, we move on to the next young player and forget about the ones still trying to find their way. Goaltenders, in particular, can take a little longer to develop, and their paths aren't always predictable.

Canucks fans will remember DiPietro as a highly regarded young goalie who once seemed to have a future in Vancouver. Things didn't work out that way, and he's now trying to make his mark with another organization. Will he turn this opportunity into a regular NHL job? It's too early to know. Anaheim has started well, and DiPietro will have his work cut out for him.

It’s hard as a fan not to appreciate stories like DiPietro’s.

But I like stories like this. A player keeps showing up, keeps doing the work, and eventually gets another chance to show what he can do.

At 27, DiPietro may still have something to prove. The encouraging part is that he hasn't stopped trying. Good luck to him on his quest for a regular NHL job.