With less than a week remaining before the start of training camp, the Islanders signed franchise goalie Rick DiPietro to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. Yesterday’s deal was for much less than the reported 15-year mega-contract the Islanders explored with DiPietro, whom the team selected first overall in the 2000 draft.

DiPietro, 23, who was a member of the 2004 World Cup team, is currently taking part in Team USA’s Olympic camp in Colorado. The youngster, who went 23-18-5 with a 2.18 GAA in his first full year as the Islanders’ No. 1 goalie in 2003-04, is expected to start in net for former Isles coach Peter Laviolette at the Turin games.

“It’s great news that Ricky’s in the fold,” coach Steve Stirling said. “He is a very important player for our franchise’s present and future.”

At $2.5 million, DiPietro will be the Islanders’ fourth highest paid player behind Alexei Yashin, Miroslav Satan and Alexei Zhitnik.

His contract brought the team’s payroll to just under $35 million and should allow the Islanders to sign restricted free agent Mark Parrish, another Team USA hopeful, before Tuesday’s opening practice of camp.