New York, NY

Former New York Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro admitted he had entertained suicidal thoughts over the past three years.

He said injuries, losing and fan hatred made him think about killing himself at one point, though he tried to backtrack and say he didn't mean the comment literally.

However, DiPietro said he was attempting to underscore the support he has received from his wife, Cassie, and not to make light of suicide.

"I was just trying to draw attention to how important my wife has been to me," said DiPietro, according to News12 Long Island.

DiPietro, 31, said that if he had not had his wife's support through all the lows he has experienced -- most recently being waived by the Islanders -- that he'd have driven himself "into a tree."

After being waived by the Islanders Friday and sent to their minor league club, DiPietro said it felt like the Islanders "ripped my heart out, stabbed it, set it on fire and flushed it down the toilet."

The former No. 1 overall draft picksaid he was heartened by that outpouring of support in social-media, but said he felt badly that he made others worry about him.

DiPietro said the most difficult thing to deal with is how hard he has worked to get healthy and return to form without corresponding results.

"That's the hardest part for me. It's just unfortunate that you work so hard and care so much and even when you do, it doesn't pay off," he said.

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