Confirmed with Link: DiBenedetto heading to Austria

[Brunomics]

Originally Posted by IslesNorway

The money is lots better in Austria or Germany compared to the AHL, so it's an understandable choice. Given the choice, would you rather have a good career in Europe or play your best years in the AHL to no avail? I also think Rhett might be back if he does well.

I meant there prospective NHL careers moreso than anything else. You don't exactly here of players going there in order to get the skills to make the best league in the world.

[Brunomics]

Originally Posted by Bride of Chuckie

His AHL salary was $55K, the Euro is worth $1.27 - so if he was receiving that same figure in Europe, he'd be making $69,850. I'm sure he signed for $100K+ USD so good for him, take their Euros and cash in on the opportunity instead of playing for peanuts in the AHL.

Even after taxes, I believe DiBo will still make more in Austria than in NA.

I'd be real worried about the Euro in the next year or so if I was them.

[Poulin 0n My St1ck]

Originally Posted by Brunomics

I'd be real worried about the Euro in the next year or so if I was them.

DiBo & Co. have Spain to thank for that.

Is this a one-year deal? That would be the smart thing to do.

[steveat]

I thought the exodus was as a result of the potential lockout we MIGHT have this year?

[BelovedIsles]

Originally Posted by Kevin27NYI

I don't blame Dibo, or anyone else. They see guys like Persson, Sundstrom, Nelson, Nino and Kabanov coming in and see their ice time fading. I wish they stayed to be good vets for them but whatever. I think it made the most sense for Rhett who was battling injury issues but for Katic, I think he had a decent shot at 20 games or so. He showed promise in his first callup and then had a bad injury. Dibo is someone I also thought had a shot at a 4th line spot since Reasoner may not be back, Pandolfo may not be back and Nino will be in the minors. Joensuu is back but there are still options for him.

Oh well. Not even small deal, it's just depth players who are looking at the possibility of 10 games or so.

I think it suggests how much better the prospect pool has become, or another perspective, how crappy it was before.

DiBo could survive as an NHL 4th liner, he's strong enough on the puck to grind and much for 8 mins. a game.

Rahk doesn't have the strength nor speed to make up for his lack of size, so he's either destined for a top-6 role or another league.

Would have liked to see more from Katic, but injury woes prevented that. He's a redundancy in the system. He could develop in another league and come back.

[IceAce]

Originally Posted by SLAPSHOT723

Anybody else getting a little suspicious as to why everyone's leaving?

So three 4th line/7th d-man tweeners/career AHLers constitutes "everyone" now?

[leaponover]

One dude I definitely don't care about. Nothing more than a career AHL'er and if he ever played on a 4th line in the NHL it would be for a team with no depth whatsoever... think the Islanders 5 years ago, lol.

[JumpOceanless]

Matt Martin ‏@mattymarts17

Gonna miss my Sarnia boys @Thedibster09 and @KOkatic next season as they head overseas, I wish them all the best! #onemanwolfpack

looks like it isn't just a precautionary thing

[steveat]

anyone know which team? I live near the Linz Blackwings.

[PhysicalGraffiti]

Originally Posted by Kevin27NYI

Damn, I really like Dibo.

This.

Sad to read this. Hope he does well and gets another shot in the NHL, I was hoping he would have a shot at cracking the NHL roster this year.