He was incredible in the 3OT game vs Buffalo in the 2006 playoffs.

I was stunned when I heard he was a GM
- Jsaquella

last i had heard he was still playing in the KHL or somewhere.

Yes, Hextall & Snow were good friends, too. But as a Flyers goalie tandem they didn't last that long. Burke arrived in February and was gone by June.
- Jsaquella

they were ping pong phenoms though.

Yes, Hextall & Snow were good friends, too. But as a Flyers goalie tandem they didn't last that long. Burke arrived in February and was gone by June.
- Jsaquella

Yeah well that tendom lasted in the playoffs longer the most Flyers tendoms do. I was only supporting your theory of how important relationship are between goaltending tendoms are. My mistake.

Yeah well that tendom lasted in the playoffs longer the most Flyers tendoms do. I was only supporting your theory of how important relationship are between goaltending tendoms are. My mistake.
- SuperSchennBros

No biggie, just responding to hammarby's comment about having a stable, long term goalie tandem.

No biggie, just responding to hammarby's comment about having a stable, long term goalie tandem.
- Jsaquella

What is/was your favorite goalie tandem (regardless of team)

What is/was your favorite goalie tandem (regardless of team)
- wilsonecho91

wow. good luck. i'd have to think about that for days.


fuhr/ranford?

richter/beezer?

Watch out for Rob Zepp
- wilsonecho91

They did invite Ryan McKay to camp. BB25 was lobbying for him last season. With any luck, he puts in a good showing.

That's a concern for the future, really, but it is valid.

If the Flyers do feel he can become another Laperriere, which is what they seem to be thinking to some extent, it would be fine. I wonder about his ability to be what Laperriere was for a few reasons. One is his hockey sense. Lappy was a smart player and knew how to read plays and how to be a good defender. The second ties into that and it's discipline. Lappy did accumulate a lot of PIM, but he was not as prone to dumb penalties as Rinaldo is.

The other part of discipline is staying within the structure of the team's system and Laperriere did that well. Rinaldo, far too often for my taste, treats his shifts like a loose cannon rolling where ever the waves take it, looking for that big hit.

The physicality is good and the kid has speed, but he hasn't shown consistent progress in harnessing his good attributes and improving his weaker ones.
- Jsaquella

Lappy was simply a better player than Rinaldo is to this point. Apart from all the traits he came to embody as one of the NHL's top checking line players, he also understood the game.

Look up Lappy's offensive numbers from his junior, IHL and very early NHL career in St. Louis back when he skated on scoring lines. Even by the high-scoring standards of the QMJHL and the IHL, it was pretty obvious that Laperriere could excel at those levels. He once had a 140-point season in the Q and it wasn't as an overager. In the IHL, he was close to a point-per-game as a first-year pro. As a rookie with the Blues, he had 13 goals and 27 points in 37 games.

Laperriere could adapt to any role. He figured out, however, that there were bigger, stronger and more naturally gifted scoring line candidates. His best role was to be a checker, so he dedicated himself heart and soul to being the best player in that role he could possibly be.

That's what Lappy in particular sees in Rinaldo: a dedication to his role and a strong desire to improve and become a penalty killer. There is no questioning his work ethic. Lappy, however, simply had more to work with when he was a player -- a classic example of how talented even the role players in the NHL truly are.

In Zac's case, the player was a third/fourth line player even back in junior hockey at both the major junior and junior A levels. That's a bit unusual for a future NHL player, including many future agitator/enforcer role players. Most of these players were once at minimum top six forwards on their junior teams.

Another funny thing about Rinaldo is that, when you watch him in practice, there seems to be more skill in him than you ever see in a game. He gets overly involved in the hitting game and trash talking to the exclusion of everything else sometimes. During the lockout season, he seemed to be on the right track. Last season, he regressed.

Lappy was simply a better player than Rinaldo is to this point. Apart from all the traits he came to embody as one of the NHL's top checking line players, he also understood the game.

Look up Lappy's offensive numbers from his junior, IHL and very early NHL career in St. Louis back when he skated on scoring lines. Even by the high-scoring standards of the QMJHL and the IHL, it was pretty obvious that Laperriere could excel at those levels. He once had a 140-point season in the Q and it wasn't as an overager. In the IHL, he was close to a point-per-game as a first-year pro. As a rookie with the Blues, he had 13 goals and 27 points in 37 games.

Laperriere could adapt to any role. He figured out, however, that there were bigger, stronger and more naturally gifted scoring line candidates. His best role was to be a checker, so he dedicated himself heart and soul to being the best player in that role he could possibly be.

That's what Lappy in particular sees in Rinaldo: a dedication to his role and a strong desire to improve and become a penalty killer. There is no questioning his work ethic. Lappy, however, simply had more to work with when he was a player -- a classic example of how talented even the role players in the NHL truly are.

In Zac's case, the player was a third/fourth line player even back in junior hockey at both the major junior and junior A levels. That's a bit unusual for a future NHL player, including many future agitator/enforcer role players. Most of these players were once at minimum top six forwards on their junior teams.

Another funny thing about Rinaldo is that, when you watch him in practice, there seems to be more skill in him than you ever see in a game. He gets overly involved in the hitting game and trash talking to the exclusion of everything else sometimes. During the lockout season, he seemed to be on the right track. Last season, he regressed.
- bmeltzer

I'm looking forward to your blog today about the issue. Seems like a real head scratcher of a signing both in terms of a modest raise and timing. If you want to sign when his stock is low then sign him for the same or less salary, not more. Sure if he becomes a regular third liner next season (I don't see it after last years regression) then this is a good contract. Seems like the gamble does not outweight the reward. Of course, this isn't going to have crippling effects on next year or even three years down the road as he can be waived for no hit against the cap. So while I think it is a poor move on Hexys part, the AMAC contract (negotiated by Homer), numerous depth signings, Hartnell trade and DLZ signing will all have bigger impacts on the club and will define this offseason and not this poor resigning, IMHO.

What is/was your favorite goalie tandem (regardless of team)
- wilsonecho91

Lindbergh/Froese

Another funny thing about Rinaldo is that, when you watch him in practice, there seems to be more skill in him than you ever see in a game. He gets overly involved in the hitting game and trash talking to the exclusion of everything else sometimes. During the lockout season, he seemed to be on the right track. Last season, he regressed.
- bmeltzer

I personally wonder how he is being guided by the Coaching staff. The benchmark metric for Rinaldo always seems to be about penalties taken, and penalties drawn. I think being an agitator should be secondary to being a hockey player. The metrics that Rinaldo should be most concerned about, are the ones about playing the game the right way, playing well defensively, and on the forecheck. Hits are great, when they're in the flow of play. But taking yourself out of the play, for a meaningless hit, is not.

Lappy was simply a better player than Rinaldo is to this point. Apart from all the traits he came to embody as one of the NHL's top checking line players, he also understood the game.

Look up Lappy's offensive numbers from his junior, IHL and very early NHL career in St. Louis back when he skated on scoring lines. Even by the high-scoring standards of the QMJHL and the IHL, it was pretty obvious that Laperriere could excel at those levels. He once had a 140-point season in the Q and it wasn't as an overager. In the IHL, he was close to a point-per-game as a first-year pro. As a rookie with the Blues, he had 13 goals and 27 points in 37 games.

Laperriere could adapt to any role. He figured out, however, that there were bigger, stronger and more naturally gifted scoring line candidates. His best role was to be a checker, so he dedicated himself heart and soul to being the best player in that role he could possibly be.

That's what Lappy in particular sees in Rinaldo: a dedication to his role and a strong desire to improve and become a penalty killer. There is no questioning his work ethic. Lappy, however, simply had more to work with when he was a player -- a classic example of how talented even the role players in the NHL truly are.

In Zac's case, the player was a third/fourth line player even back in junior hockey at both the major junior and junior A levels. That's a bit unusual for a future NHL player, including many future agitator/enforcer role players. Most of these players were once at minimum top six forwards on their junior teams.

Another funny thing about Rinaldo is that, when you watch him in practice, there seems to be more skill in him than you ever see in a game. He gets overly involved in the hitting game and trash talking to the exclusion of everything else sometimes. During the lockout season, he seemed to be on the right track. Last season, he regressed.
- bmeltzer

That's what worries me most, TBH. He's seems unable to control himself in the games and the possibility for something dumb really outweighs the benefits, IMO. It's possible to find a good, solid checking line guy that brings physical play & grit without the baggage Rinaldo brings.

It's a shame because he can be fun to watch and he does have ability in some areas, especially skating. But until he gets much more disciplined, and not just in terms of staying out of the box or getting the penalties taken/drawn numbers closer, I have a hard time trusting him.