I hope Rinaldo continues his disciplined play.

do these new advanced stats have some value? of corsi!
- isaiah520

Everyone is different so its all cool. But...

Numbers and me have never got along. She made it clear she was out of my league long ago.

Stats are just he inbred cousin.

pretty sure he was talking about players whose #1 best trait is hitting...not just players who were good body checkers
- Crimsoninja

Surprised it only took you a page and a half to run to his side.

Rinaldo's biggest asset is his hitting. He belongs in the NHL for a small number of things, mainly his hitting, speed and his heart. If he only had speed and heart, does he make the NHL? I'd probably say no, not with his hands at least. So bc4 knows more than Homer and the other 29 GM's that employ guys like Rinaldo? If your best asset is hitting, myabe you don't belong in the NHL. But there are NHL'ers past and present whose best asset was/is hitting, how did they get there? Not by their Corsi rating. I think the zone starts stats that Bill highlighted is a good advanced statistic to measure how effective Rinaldo is. He wears down other teams with hitting, causes more power plays than he takes penalties, and ends more of his shifts in the offensive zone than any other player other than Voracek? I'd fathom to guess he belongs in the NHL.

Surprised it only took you a page and a half to run to his side.

Rinaldo's biggest asset is his hitting. He belongs in the NHL for a small number of things, mainly his hitting, speed and his heart. If he only had speed and heart, does he make the NHL? I'd probably say no, not with his hands at least. So bc4 knows more than Homer and the other 29 GM's that employ guys like Rinaldo? If your best asset is hitting, myabe you don't belong in the NHL. But there are NHL'ers past and present whose best asset was/is hitting, how did they get there? Not by their Corsi rating. I think the zone starts stats that Bill highlighted is a good advanced statistic to measure how effective Rinaldo is. He wears down other teams with hitting, causes more power plays than he takes penalties, and ends more of his shifts in the offensive zone than any other player other than Voracek? I'd fathom to guess he belongs in the NHL.
- GirouxForTheShow

Heeeeey, Dikkie Dunn wrote this, it has to be true!

- Jsaquella

i thought that lava shoulda tried rinaldo on the pk at the end of the year, once the playoffs were out of the picture. what was there to lose? and you never know, you may need him at some point

i thought that lava shoulda tried rinaldo on the pk at the end of the year, once the playoffs were out of the picture. what was there to lose? and you never know, you may need him at some point
- FlyerMike18

Not that keeping our options open isn't a good idea, but Giroux, Lecavalier, Couturier, Talbot, Laughton (if he makes the team), Read, Hall, and Gagne (if he is resigned) all play the PK. We only need 4 guys to play 2 units. It would take an injury streak of epic proportions for us to really "need" him to play the PK.

Not that keeping our options open isn't a good idea, but Giroux, Lecavalier, Couturier, Talbot, Laughton (if he makes the team), Read, Hall, and Gagne (if he is resigned) all play the PK. We only need 4 guys to play 2 units. It would take an injury streak of epic proportions for us to really "need" him to play the PK.
- JAKEw1234

next year, that is

and you need more than four forwards that kill penalties

next year, that is

and you need more than four forwards that kill penalties
- FlyerMike18

Not at one time, really. 2 for the 1st unit and 2 for the 2nd. Obviously having some extras in case of injury is important, but in any one game, you only need 4 to fill a roster. The point is, there are a lot of confident, proven PKers standing between Rinaldo and a shot on the PK. Even if he proves he can do it in preseason opportunities, I don't see a way for him to prove it that strongly that he'll be put on the starting PK in the regular season.

between the hemorrhaging of readers and his twitter meltdown, this was predictable.
- isaiah520

It was a financial move by Gannett across many of their newspapers. Former NHL.com editor-in-chief Phil Coffey -- who gave me my break to become a professional hockey writer -- was another one let go yesterday.

I feel awful for Randy, Phil and sports editor Gary Silvers.

Hi guys,

I was looking at www.ticketsnow.com hoping to get some tickets to a rangers game at home. However, the site didn't show one single ticket for the entire year...? I have already gotten my hands on two pens-flyers matches, but the Rangers matches don't even show.

Anyone got an idea as to why? Should we consider Stubhub instead?

Ah yes, the mythical "intangibles".

What's more effective? His hits that sometimes cross the line that ignites the other team to target our star players for retribution, or his Twitter presence?
- bradleyc4

Not at one time, really. 2 for the 1st unit and 2 for the 2nd. Obviously having some extras in case of injury is important, but in any one game, you only need 4 to fill a roster. The point is, there are a lot of confident, proven PKers standing between Rinaldo and a shot on the PK. Even if he proves he can do it in preseason opportunities, I don't see a way for him to prove it that strongly that he'll be put on the starting PK in the regular season.
- JAKEw1234

I personally would like to see 3 pairs of Forwards that can kill penalties. And I'd like to see Giroux removed all together from PK duties. Those are hard minutes. If a 4th line player like Rinaldo can add killing penalties to his skill set. It makes him all the more valuable to his team.

Surprised it only took you a page and a half to run to his side.

Rinaldo's biggest asset is his hitting. He belongs in the NHL for a small number of things, mainly his hitting, speed and his heart. If he only had speed and heart, does he make the NHL? I'd probably say no, not with his hands at least. So bc4 knows more than Homer and the other 29 GM's that employ guys like Rinaldo? If your best asset is hitting, myabe you don't belong in the NHL. But there are NHL'ers past and present whose best asset was/is hitting, how did they get there? Not by their Corsi rating. I think the zone starts stats that Bill highlighted is a good advanced statistic to measure how effective Rinaldo is. He wears down other teams with hitting, causes more power plays than he takes penalties, and ends more of his shifts in the offensive zone than any other player other than Voracek? I'd fathom to guess he belongs in the NHL.
- GirouxForTheShow

Zac Rinaldo has a heart, can skate and can throw a big body-check. Fantastic.

So you want to dismiss Corsi, and just prop up his Zone Starts to build your argument? That sound an awful lot like the argument used against people who look at "advanced stats"....picking and choosing the ones that best make your argument.

Yes, Rinaldo drew more penalties than he took. But so did Danny Briere this past season. Where are those accolades? He was always looked at as a guy who took a lot of needless penalties. Are the penalties he took, even though less than he drew, considered worse than Rinaldo's?

Or maybe, just maybe...we're putting too much stock into a small sample size.

Rinaldo offers next to nothing offensively or defensively. He's regularly pitted against the other team's worst players and still can't post a positive shot differential. His lack of skill is further evidenced by the fact that because he and his teammates are typically being outshot, his only defense is to hit anything that moves. Which, at times, has put his teammates at risk of retribution.

Sign me up for two more years of Zac Rinaldo!

Zac Rinaldo has a heart, can skate and can throw a big body-check. Fantastic.

So you want to dismiss Corsi, and just prop up his Zone Starts to build your argument? That sound an awful lot like the argument used against people who look at "advanced stats"....picking and choosing the ones that best make your argument.

Yes, Rinaldo drew more penalties than he took. But so did Danny Briere this past season. Where are those accolades? He was always looked at as a guy who took a lot of needless penalties. Are the penalties he took, even though less than he drew, considered worse than Rinaldo's?

Or maybe, just maybe...we're putting too much stock into a small sample size.

Rinaldo offers next to nothing offensively or defensively. He's regularly pitted against the other team's worst players and still can't post a positive shot differential. His lack of skill is further evidenced by the fact that because he and his teammates are typically being outshot, his only defense is to hit anything that moves. Which, at times, has put his teammates at risk of retribution.

Sign me up for two more years of Zac Rinaldo!
- bradleyc4

I wish you could actually support that.

I wish you could actually support that.
- jak521

One example:

http://www.hockeyfights.c...eks-retribution-on-talbot

I wish you could actually support that.
- jak521

Example #2:

http://blogs.northjersey....te_gordie_howe_hat_trick/

Supported.

Zac Rinaldo has a heart, can skate and can throw a big body-check. Fantastic.

So you want to dismiss Corsi, and just prop up his Zone Starts to build your argument? That sound an awful lot like the argument used against people who look at "advanced stats"....picking and choosing the ones that best make your argument.

Yes, Rinaldo drew more penalties than he took. But so did Danny Briere this past season. Where are those accolades? He was always looked at as a guy who took a lot of needless penalties. Are the penalties he took, even though less than he drew, considered worse than Rinaldo's?

Or maybe, just maybe...we're putting too much stock into a small sample size.

Rinaldo offers next to nothing offensively or defensively. He's regularly pitted against the other team's worst players and still can't post a positive shot differential. His lack of skill is further evidenced by the fact that because he and his teammates are typically being outshot, his only defense is to hit anything that moves. Which, at times, has put his teammates at risk of retribution.

Sign me up for two more years of Zac Rinaldo!
- bradleyc4

So it seems as though your argument against Rinaldo is back to being strictly about Corsi. Which you said it wasn't. You've yet to make any case against Rinaldo as a player, without involving Corsi.
And yes, when looking at players such as Rinaldo, combined with who he plays with, and the situations he plays in, Corsi should absolutely be dismissed. even more so for Relative Corsi.
And you also completely dismiss what his physical presence on the ice, does for the Flyers. And that physical aspect definitely contributes to offense, and defense.
And it's not about picking which Advanced stats supports a particular argument. It's about using what makes sense. Something many of the Advanced stats community struggle with. Advanced stats cannot measure every value that a player brings to a team.

So it seems as though your argument against Rinaldo is back to being strictly about Corsi. Which you said it wasn't. You've yet to make any case against Rinaldo as a player, without involving Corsi.
And yes, when looking at players such as Rinaldo, combined with who he plays with, and the situations he plays in, Corsi should absolutely be dismissed. even more so for Relative Corsi.
And you also completely dismiss what his physical presence on the ice, does for the Flyers. And that physical aspect definitely contributes to offense, and defense.
- MJL

I've already stated that I believe physicality when paired with zero offensive or defensive acumen is worthless.

I've already stated that I believe physicality when paired with zero offensive or defensive acumen is worthless.
- bradleyc4

You've stated it many times, but you can't support it, or make that case. And you're simply wrong that Rinaldo brings zero offensive or defensive acumen to the ice.

One example:

http://www.hockeyfights.c...eks-retribution-on-talbot
- bradleyc4

Sadly I wouldnt consider a 3rd/4th liner to be a "star", nor would I consider Schenn.. Also, if a willing fight is retribution that is putting our stars at risk, they shouldnt fight. Fairly simple.
Also, a quick question about a CF%... Whats worse, a .398 or a .402?

What about ShotHART -14.9 or -14.7?