Fifteen years seems more like a prison term rather than a sports contract. Yet, there was Islanders owner Charles Wang inking goalie Rick DiPietro yesterday to what is believed to be the longest contract in NHL history.

Now at $67.5 million or $4.5 million level per season, the contract is reasonable in terms of cap space and it does not hamstring the organization like the Alexi Yashin deal a few years ago.

But this here is the problem. There is no provision in the contract if DiPietro gets hurt. Let’s say the goalie comes down with a career crippling injury in the next five seasons. Well, the Islanders will still be on the hook for the deal and DiPietro has the incentive to keep playing, even though he’s not the same player they signed. The contract will wrap itself around the Islanders neck because it will be difficult to sit the goalie and also tough to sign a healthy net minder due to the finances being handed out. .

The 25 year-old will never be able to get the same amount of money doing something else, so he it’s in his best interests to keep playing - no matter how ineffective - rather then retire and voiding the rest of the deal.

Wang at the press conference yesterday admitted there could be a concern. “You look at this [contract] and say, 'It's a risk.' It absolutely is a risk. But we want to have that continuity, build that cornerstone with guys who will be here. It starts with the goalie ... He's the franchise.”

Very well, but for the same reasonable rate, DiPietro could have been netted for five years and optioned for a few years after that. The goalie was a restricted free agent. Even if he went through with his threat to sit out the season, the Islanders would still retain his rights and eventually he would have to come back to the table. If he didn’t, would the franchise really want a selfish player like that?

Let’s say DiPietro does stay healthy and effective into his thirties. Well, not many goalies over 35 maintain their high level of play they had earlier in their careers, so the backend may hurt the Islanders in the long term.

If the goalie brings a Stanley Cup to Long Island, then that would be a small price to pay, but if DiPietro does not fully realize his potential, this deal could go down as one of the worst in North American sports history.