The feel-good story of Wade Dubielewicz returning to the Islanders has come to a crashing halt. TSN reports that Dubie has been claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Yes, the same Columbus Blue Jackets that have Steve Mason and his 1.81 GAA, not to mention Pascal Leclaire, who finished 7th in GAA last year.
When Zach texted me to pass along the bad news (he heard it on XM), I didn't believe it and I still don't believe it. Dubielewicz is a guy that 30 teams passed on last year and lost his starting job in the KHL, of all places. That he couldn't pass through waivers is a little surprising. Not that Dubie isn't a good goalie or anything, but most Islanders fans thought it was a sure thing. Not so. What's most surprising, though, is that the Blue Jackets claimed Dubie. They've had great goaltending for the past two seasons. Mason is a legit Vezina candidate, and Leclaire, coming off a breakout year, is due back at the end of the month. Does Columbus really need a third goalie? Are they attempting to trade Leclaire? Will they end up dumping Dubie once Leclaire returns? These are questions that will be answered over time. And it at least gives us hope that Dubie could become available in the future.
For now, though, Islanders fans have to be disappointed. In a season that has been an unmitigated disaster in every way, this was something to make the Islanders faithful happy. It just figures that even something as simple as bringing in a former backup goalie could get screwed up in a season such as this one.
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