This Day in Isles History: June 24

June 24, 2001 -One day after acquiring Alexei Yashin from the Ottawa Senators, the New York Islanders traded for Michael Peca, sending Taylor Pyatt and Tim Connolly to the Buffalo Sabres.

Peca, who had sat out the 2000-01 season in a contract dispute with the Sabres, was named the Islanders captain ahead of the 2001-02 season and helped lead the team to their first playoff berth in seven years. Personally, Peca posted a career-year in 2001-02, recording 60 points (25G, 35A) en route to winning his second Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward.

ISLES HISTORY: AWARD WINNERS

Peca's first season with the Isles was cut short after a knee injury in Game 5 of the Islanders first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He went on to record back-to-back 40-point seasons in 2002-03, and 2003-04, leading the Isles to the postseason in both years.

In total, Peca played 222 games for the Isles, recording 142 points (49G, 93A) over that span.

June 24, 2000 - The Islanders draft Rick DiPietro first overall at the 2000 NHL Draft. DiPietro played 319 games with the Islanders, posting a 130-136-36 record with a 2.87 GAA, a .902 SV% and 16 shutouts. DiPietro participated in the NHL All-Star Game in the 2007-08 season, helped the Bridgeport Sound Tigers make a run to the Calder Cup Final in 2001-02 and represented Team USA at the 2006 Olympic Games.

DiPietro also gained notoriety when he signed a 15-year contract at the onset of the 2005-06 season. After posting back-to-back 30-win seasons in 2005-06 and 2006-07 and appearing in 63 games in 2007-08 injuries limited DiPietro to just 50 games over the next five seasons.