The definition of a body check is to separate the player from the puck. Well the puck was gone already.

He wasn't going for the hit until the puck was gone and in fact had to "launch" himself up and back to make the hit. It's the EXACT hit that the league says they don't want but yet do nothing to prevent them from happening.
- Stripes77

Do you realize how fast that decision to "pull up" is needed when you're already committed to a check, especially at that level? It wasn't a Domi drive-by elbow, or Thornton, or Chara and a turnbuckle.

And checking is used for a lot more than separating a player from the puck...regardless of definition.

I don't believe 1 bad hit is going to disrupt the chemistry of the team. Flyers fans aren't a fan of Rinaldo because of the penalities he takes. Some of them legit, some based on reputation by the Refs. Just like the one Paul has of him. Whether or not he wear the Flyers logo makes no differnce to me. This hit was dirty. It sucks for Buffalo. But Rinaldo is a clean hitter and an agitator.

If you want to get on "take this play out of the league" rant, that is fine. But using Rinaldo as an example is stupid, as history as a NHL player does not support the arguement. If you want a poster boy for "make and example" then use someone that is really dirty. Use James Neal. Use Alex Ovechkin. Use Patrick Kaleta. Not a guy that is serving his 2nd NHL suspension.
- SchennBros

YOur effecting the chemistry of your lines going into the most important part of the year. Even the color guys noted how it will impact the lines going forward. Now is not the time to switch things up.

SO a guy going on his third year now has two suspensions its not like hes a 10 year vet. Lets not forget he was on his way to being a 10 min a game player up form 7 mins previously in his career. So with more ice time would equate for more time to be a bone head. He launched with intent to injury plain and simple. A concussion is the worst injury to have in sports.

Do you realize how fast that decision to "pull up" is needed when you're already committed to a check, especially at that level? It wasn't a Domi drive-by elbow, or Thornton, or Chara and a turnbuckle.

And checking is used for a lot more than separating a player from the puck...regardless of definition.
- Topshelf Mountain

He wasnt committed until the puck was gone. He was doing a drive by attempted block, then decided to go lunge at the D

I'm sorry Paul, while I can't condone Rinaldo's hit, I think to single him out like this is unfair. This was just 1 incident for a player that likely is close to the tops of hits/ice time in the league. Sure he had a bad past in the AHL, but over his 3 seasons as a Flyer he had 1 fine, and this is his second suspension. To paint him in the mold of Patrick Kaleta, Matt Cooke (reformed), or Raffie Torres is just wrong.

I know your no fan of James Neal, but he has had more suspensions/Fines/reviews just this season then Rinaldo has had his entire NHL career. I don't think 1 poor decision, in 1 game, should tarnish the changes he is trying to make.
- SchennBros

I completely agree with the suspension and would even say it deserved more (and may have gotten more if there were more games left) but I am completely on board with your thoughts on the attack on Rinaldo. There have been what, 5 or 6 articles written just today about it? When was the last suspension that drew that kind of uproar? And I think it should be obvious to everybody that he was going to great strides to change his game and until now had been doing a great job of reforming his game.

Paul Stewart: Rinaldo and Reform
- Paul Stewart

As a Flyers fan of 40 years I say to you...bravo! I agree 100% with your assessment of Rinaldo. Can't trust him. Don't want him.

Great piece.

You've got a pretty harsh review of a guy that hadn't been suspended in over 18 months. And while the play was horrible in its timing and poorly executed in its delivery, the shooting player changed positioning while Ronaldo was already committed to the hit, almost like the boarding calls when the offensive player turns his back at the last half-second.
- Topshelf Mountain

Wow... a whole 18 months. That includes the off-season and a half-season lockout. It also includes an aggressor penalty earlier this season. Not impressed.

It was a dirty hit by a player with a long rap sheet. End of story.

The Buffalo sabre lowered his head, abnormally low, because he was reaching out trying to get to the puck before a player, who was racing him to puck. Now this reach let him get to the puck a good 4 to 5 feet in front of Rinaldo. Obviously, there is no time for Rinaldo to stop.

BUT there is plenty of time for Rinaldo to realize the defensemen's head is in a very bad position and you can NOT jump at the player and put everything into your hit.

If Rinaldo hit the breaks (still think there would have been a collision if he hit the breaks) I would give you the bad positioning argument. I do think that this absolves him of intent though. We all know the hit was not malicious, just very very stupid. He deserves the suspension for being so reckless.

Wow... a whole 18 months. That includes the off-season and a half-season lockout. It also includes an aggressor penalty earlier this season. Not impressed.
- Paul Stewart

zing!

It was a dirty hit by a player with a long rap sheet. End of story.

Yep

I completely agree with the suspension and would even say it deserved more (and may have gotten more if there were more games left) but I am completely on board with your thoughts on the attack on Rinaldo. There have been what, 5 or 6 articles written just today about it? When was the last suspension that drew that kind of uproar? And I think it should be obvious to everybody that he was going to great strides to change his game and until now had been doing a great job of reforming his game.
- vipeviper

Exactly. I'm not defending the hit. But we have seen a lot worse by the likes of Super Star James Neal in 1 game this season. This is a reputation reaction. A reputation that was established in the AHL and his first NHL season. He has cleaned up his game.

Exactly. I'm not defending the hit. But we have seen a lot worse by the likes of Super Star James Neal in 1 game this season. This is a reputation reaction. A reputation that was established in the AHL and his first NHL season. He has cleaned up his game.
- SchennBros

Man, how come Stewie is picking on Rinaldo, but didn't do the same for Neal?

Wow... a whole 18 months. That includes the off-season and a half-season lockout. It also includes an aggressor penalty earlier this season. Not impressed.

It was a dirty hit by a player with a long rap sheet. End of story.
- Paul Stewart

There needs to be an applause button!!!!

Man, how come Stewie is picking on Rinaldo, but didn't do the same for Neal?
- BulliesPhan87

I think he actually wrote a piece up on Neal but not with nearly the same tone to it of pure disdain for a player who is trying to clean up his game where Neal doesn't even see a problem with his.

Man, how come Stewie is picking on Rinaldo, but didn't do the same for Neal?
- BulliesPhan87

It's funny how people how selective memory

I recommend he reads this:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=58889

Titled: James Neal: The Poster Child for What's Wrong With NHL Discipline System

I think he actually wrote a piece up on Neal but not with nearly the same tone to it of pure disdain for a player who is trying to clean up his game where Neal doesn't even see a problem with his.
- vipeviper

I think you need to re-read his Neal write up, maybe twice.

Well said Mr Stewart, headshots have no place in the game.

It's funny how people how selective memory

I recommend he reads this:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=58889

Titled: James Neal: The Poster Child for What's Wrong With NHL Discipline System
- Stripes77

Ah yes, the "glowing endorsement" of Neal.

I think you need to re-read his Neal write up, maybe twice.
- BulliesPhan87

Wow... a whole 18 months. That includes the off-season and a half-season lockout. It also includes an aggressor penalty earlier this season. Not impressed.

It was a dirty hit by a player with a long rap sheet. End of story.
- Paul Stewart

He is an agatator, and a hard hitter. He walks the line, but most of the time it's a clean hit. When you play the type of game he plays, sometime your going to cross that line. We should all understand that lines get crossed, and people get suspended... I think it has happened to a lot of people... Even Refs.

I think you need to re-read his Neal write up, maybe twice.
- BulliesPhan87

Just to clarify, I said Neal has no problem with his game rather than Paul has no problem with his game. With that, you still think the tone of the 2 pieces are the same? The blowup over the Rinaldo hit, which again, I think went under punished, exceeds anything I can remember.

Man, how come Stewie is picking on Rinaldo, but didn't do the same for Neal?
- BulliesPhan87

I think you should back read. I did say I know he doesnt have any love for Neal.

I think you should back read. I did say I know he doesnt have any love for Neal.
- SchennBros

Somehow, I'm not compelled to reread your posts. I'm just surprised that youareback.

He wasnt committed until the puck was gone. He was doing a drive by attempted block, then decided to go lunge at the D
- Stripes77

Absolutely. He was trying to get his stick in to deflect the shot. Then he looked up and saw a vulnerable player, and launched into his head. And it did happen fast, but not that fast to where he couldn't have held up.

He is an agatator, and a hard hitter. He walks the line, but most of the time it's a clean hit. When you play the type of game he plays, sometime your going to cross that line. We should all understand that lines get crossed, and people get suspended... I think it has happened to a lot of people... Even Refs.
- SchennBros

He didn't cross a line here. He jumped a mile over the line.

Wow... a whole 18 months. That includes the off-season and a half-season lockout. It also includes an aggressor penalty earlier this season. Not impressed.

It was a dirty hit by a player with a long rap sheet. End of story.
- Paul Stewart

Nice rebuttal. You definitely put some thought into what I said, and your response. I appreciate you not being the closed-minded, attention seeking bloggers who write merely to get their views up.