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.
- MJL

This this this!!!

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

And he rightfully got suspended for it. But Rinaldo is hardly the posterboy for what is wrong in this league and discipline issues. Guys like Kaleta, Neal, and Ovechkin are.

And he rightfully got suspended for it. But Rinaldo is hardly the posterboy for what is wrong in this league and discipline issues. Guys like Kaleta, Neal, and Ovechkin are.
- SchennBros

Kaleta has exactly 1 more suspension than Rinaldo fyi

And he rightfully got suspended for it. But Rinaldo is hardly the posterboy for what is wrong in this league and discipline issues. Guys like Kaleta, Neal, and Ovechkin are.
- SchennBros

The problem is that Rinaldo is working his way up the list. And I'm hardly impressed with "he's not as bad as some of these other players". This hit wasn't a borderline hit. It was as bad as it gets. A predatory head shot.

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.
- Topshelf Mountain

You are definately not his kind of poster.

And he rightfully got suspended for it. But Rinaldo is hardly the posterboy for what is wrong in this league and discipline issues. Guys like Kaleta, Neal, and Ovechkin are.
- SchennBros

Hes on par for a suspension every what 83/84 games or so congrats

Hes on par for a suspension every what 83/84 games or so congrats
- hubie

Sure... The difference is when Rinaldo crosses the line he gets his suspension and penalities. If your going to cry about injustice in the league, cry about Neal getting off light. Cry about Weber turnbuckling Zetterberg. Cry about Ovi charging and getting away with it.

The leagues discipline issues aren't with players like Rinaldo. When he crosses the line he gets called for it. It's thier uneven treatment of star players, and taking into consideration if an injury occured.

Kind of like high sticking on the ice... You can high stick a guy and break an orbital bone... 2 minutes.. but create a little scratch with blood and its 4 min.

Hes on par for a suspension every what 83/84 games or so congrats
- hubie

His play last night is deserving of criticism. His lambasting he is getting for his "reputation" is mis-placed.

And he rightfully got suspended for it. But Rinaldo is hardly the posterboy for what is wrong in this league and discipline issues. Guys like Kaleta, Neal, and Ovechkin are.
- SchennBros

You're right. A guy who plays less than 8 minutes a game and has 153 PIM is hardly what's wrong with the league.

Keep posting I'm amused by your ignorance.

Oh, I forgot Rinaldo plays with an "edge" while Neal is just dirty and cheap. Love the hypocrisy of some Flyer fans who swarmed on here female doging about Neal when they have a player who doesn't have any skill.

Sure... The difference is when Rinaldo crosses the line he gets his suspension and penalities. If your going to cry about injustice in the league, cry about Neal getting off light. Cry about Weber turnbuckling Zetterberg. Cry about Ovi charging and getting away with it.

The leagues discipline issues aren't with players like Rinaldo. When he crosses the line he gets called for it. It's thier uneven treatment of star players, and taking into consideration if an injury occured.

Kind of like high sticking on the ice... You can high stick a guy and break an orbital bone... 2 minutes.. but create a little scratch with blood and its 4 min.
- SchennBros

these kind of statements remind me a lot like children in school. Oh its not my little johnny it was other look what others do, oh johnny did no wrong there out to get my johnny. THen johnny grows up and kills people.

We get it your a flyers fan, but you cant sit there and say he was turning his game around. Hartnell turned his game around which takes a whole lot longer than 82 games. Dont want to say the Mr. Stewart will have another article about Rinaldo being suspended but he can start one to have in teh bull pen at any time. Dont forget when Zac came into the league he had more suspensions then goals. So lets not try to let Rinaldo off the hook casue he plays for your favorite team.

His play last night is deserving of criticism. His lambasting he is getting for his "reputation" is mis-placed.
- SchennBros

true or false he has equal number of suspensions as years of professional exp?

His play last night is deserving of criticism. His lambasting he is getting for his "reputation" is mis-placed.
- SchennBros

That is such total BS. His reputation is deserved as much as Neal's is. Both need to clean up their act a lot. So far we haven't seen them do that as they continue to do stupid things on the ice.

And he rightfully got suspended for it. But Rinaldo is hardly the posterboy for what is wrong in this league and discipline issues. Guys like Kaleta, Neal, and Ovechkin are.
- SchennBros

Wait, What?

His play last night is deserving of criticism. His lambasting he is getting for his "reputation" is mis-placed.
- SchennBros

How many times was he suspended in juniors? How about the AHL? His first season in the NHL?

But wait we are supposed to forget all about that because he was good for 18 months? Which includes as Stewie said a shortened season and an offseason? Please

That is such total BS. His reputation is deserved as much as Neal's is. Both need to clean up their act a lot. So far we haven't seen them do that as they continue to do stupid things on the ice.
- acdc1206

Correct. Neal while talented, has a 10 cent brain. He should not be held in a higher regard because he is a skill player.

Dirty is dirty.

Correct. Neal while talented, has a 10 cent brain. He should not be held in a higher regard because he is a skill player.

Dirty is dirty.
- ImThatGuy

Exactly.

Exactly.
- Flyers_V88

He should be held in the same regard as Rinaldo, Kaleta. Everyone knows why those guys are on the ice. They need to learn to do it with respect for their "brothers" or so they say.

Neither Kaleta or Rinaldo has shown the ability to do so. It is why Buffalo sent Kaleta packing, and rightfully so.

Until the league starts handing out 15-20 game suspensions, this will continue.

Start suspending guys for last second turns while we are at it. 2-3 games for being reckless. You are putting yourself in a dangerous position.

true or false he has equal number of suspensions as years of professional exp?
- hubie

False

That is such total BS. His reputation is deserved as much as Neal's is. Both need to clean up their act a lot. So far we haven't seen them do that as they continue to do stupid things on the ice.
- acdc1206

Rinaldo isn't nearly as bad as Neal. And my point was that players like Rinaldo DO get suspended by the league. Where a guy like Neal, while he has been suspended, doesn't get nearly what he deserves. That is where the NHL is failing.

The fact that Todd Bertuzzi can be paid to be in a locker room and put on a hockey jersey shows that the NHL has no intention of controlling players actions. Don't tell me he paid his debt, because his debt should be that he is not allowed to play hockey ever again (be it the NHL, KHL, or some beer league on Saturday night). He disrepected the game.

I used to think it will take someone to be killed on the ice to make changes, but I am afraid that still won't cause a change.

False
- SchennBros

hummm so this is a show of how math classes fail students. Hes been a pro for 4 years 2010-2014 4 years 4 suspensions 4=4

edit= oh sorry its 6 suspensions in 4 years I was originally wrong.

Rinaldo made his NHL debut on April 22, 2011, in Game 5 of the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Buffalo Sabres despite having more suspensions (4) than goals scored (3) for the Phantoms in the 2010-11 season. He again made the lineup for Game 1 of the conference semi-finals against the Boston Bruins, registering 2 shots.

plus 2 since =6

hummm so this is a show of how math classes fail students. Hes been a pro for 4 years 2010-2014 4 years 4 suspensions 4=4

edit= oh sorry its 6 suspensions in 4 years I was originally wrong.

Rinaldo made his NHL debut on April 22, 2011, in Game 5 of the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Buffalo Sabres despite having more suspensions (4) than goals scored (3) for the Phantoms in the 2010-11 season. He again made the lineup for Game 1 of the conference semi-finals against the Boston Bruins, registering 2 shots.

plus 2 since =6
- hubie

I don't follow.

I don't follow.
- Streit2ThePoint

We call that Hubie english let me translate.

Since turning pro in 2010 Rinaldo has been suspended 6 times. Not to mention the countless suspensions in Juniors. What does this mean? He is a dirty player. His reputation is justified.

We call that Hubie english let me translate.

Since turning pro in 2010 Rinaldo has been suspended 6 times. Not to mention the countless suspensions in Juniors. What does this mean? He is a dirty player. His reputation is justified.
- Stripes77

this is what I meant to say.

We call that Hubie english let me translate.

Since turning pro in 2010 Rinaldo has been suspended 6 times. Not to mention the countless suspensions in Juniors. What does this mean? He is a dirty player. His reputation is justified.
- Stripes77

I don't think anyone here will say he doesn't have a tendency to throw and illegal hit from time to time. Obviously, he does. But, for the most part, since he's become a Flyer, the majority of his hits are heavy, clean hits. Now, the most recent one is clearly a stupid, reckless hit, and he should have gotten more games than he did. But really, he's not the Cooke/Kaleta/Lapierre/Burrows type who goes out seeking to injure players with cheap hits (in general). That's the way I see it, and as a Flyers fan, I don't want him back on the roster. But it's because I don't trust him, not because I think he's inherently dirty.