I don't see the connection.
- bradleyc4

U don't think physical play and fights can stir up a hockey club?

Or just take Eichel, who's probably just as good of a player and probably a better fit w/ Giroux anyway.
- Tomahawk

I like Eich.

This situation with ppl all up in arms about Reinaldo is comical at best... This is the Philadelphia Flyers with a storied tradition of physical play and fighting, whom at the current time have a former enforcer and goalie that basically was an enforcer and you don't see why the team has a guy like Rinaldo? Really?

He gets so many hits because he is a poor puck possession player. He was an effective pest in 2012-13 but not otherwise yet he seems to get more chances than other players, in general, not just as the 4th line energy guy.
- NickTheKid87

He gets so many hits because he's a very physical player, and he skates well. Not because he's a poor possession player.
There are certainly areas of play where Rinaldo can improve, and part of that is being better positionally, and not taking himself out of the play, to make a hit.
A 4th line player, playing with other players who aren't possession "drivers, on a poor possession team, isn't going to be a good possession player. Those numbers are team numbers, not individual numbers.

U don't think physical play and fights can stir up a hockey club?
- JoeRussomanno

What about being earning 22 PIM for every 60 minutes on the ice? Does that have any effect on the team?

This situation with ppl all up in arms about Reinaldo is comical at best... This is the Philadelphia Flyers with a storied tradition of physical play and fighting, whom at the current time have a former enforcer and goalie that basically was an enforcer and you don't see why the team has a guy like Rinaldo? Really?
- JoeRussomanno

And the Flyers have been trying the "bully" method since 1976 with zero results. Shall I tell you the definition of "insanity?"

He was in better position last year than he was his first year, again, I am going of what I saw watching the games, not what I can google in stats to prove my point...you hate the player, not going to get you off of that point, you also hate the make up with the 4th line, that I can agree with...I think the team has far to long gone with out a 4th line that can eat minutes and by the end of the season our top lines are worn down...

he does take bad penalties and has had been on the wrong end of the refs whistle (unfairly sometimes because of what he did his first year in)

but he is progressing, for the role the team has for him...if he wasn't he would not be on the team...they just don't have the personnel to play 4th line role...and most Vets are not looking for 650K to do that, so witht he lack of cap flexability Zac R is what we have...
- JW98FlyerFan

I'm not aware of any stats that can be used to show if a player is running around...outside of hits. So yes, but the sheer volume of hits he's thrown, one could say tht he's out there primarily looking to hit opposing players, which often involves losing position to deliver a hit.

I'm not doing that, I'm just going off what I saw during games, and no, Rinaldo is not markedly better in terms of being a stronger positional defender than he has ever been. He runs around, tryingto lay big hits.

And I freely admit, I'm biased against him. The bias comes from him being a subpar hockey player, with a limited skill set, who hasn't shown an ability to play a more disciplined game and avoid stupid penalties.

As for the team, the absolutely have the personnel to ice a solid fourth line, assuming everyone is healthy, while carrying Rinaldo or Rosehill as the 13th forward. Again, it would be easy for the Flyers to ice four very solid lines-at least on paper-that wouldn't have a energy line or a line that the coach would have to go out of his way to protect.

This situation with ppl all up in arms about Reinaldo is comical at best... This is the Philadelphia Flyers with a storied tradition of physical play and fighting, whom at the current time have a former enforcer and goalie that basically was an enforcer and you don't see why the team has a guy like Rinaldo? Really?
- JoeRussomanno

They also have a storied history of not winning a Stanley Cup since Gerald Ford was president.

Is it better to hang onto an outmoded tradition or to win another Stanley Cup?

This situation with ppl all up in arms about Reinaldo is comical at best... This is the Philadelphia Flyers with a storied tradition of physical play and fighting, whom at the current time have a former enforcer and goalie that basically was an enforcer and you don't see why the team has a guy like Rinaldo? Really?
- JoeRussomanno

I think it's comical in that the Coach saying he is going to continue to evaluate Rinaldo in a PK role, has been vastly overblown. I think there are legitimate criticisms of Rinaldo as a player. But why not see what happens, and if the player improves. Or wait to see how he is actually used in games that count, before making it a big deal. I see nothing wrong with trying to make Rinaldo a better player.

And the Flyers have been trying the "bully" method since 1976 with zero results. Shall I tell you the definition of "insanity?"
- jmatchett383

And need I remind you f my objection to hextall's hiring? I will so that so far he has impressed but nevertheless u had to know the bully method was alive and well with his promotion.

U don't think physical play and fights can stir up a hockey club?
- JoeRussomanno

Is there no such thing as a decent hockey player who can fight and play physical?

They also have a storied history of not winning a Stanley Cup since Gerald Ford was president.

Is it better to hang onto an outmoded tradition or to win another Stanley Cup?
- Jsaquella

U tell me. I was against bringing in another bully as gm.

No but why cry over spilt milk.
- JoeRussomanno

It's not the spilled milk I'm worried about. It's the pouring of the new gallon into the broken pitcher that I mind.

I think it's comical in that the Coach saying he is going to continue to evaluate Rinaldo in a PK role, has been vastly overblown. I think there are legitimate criticisms of Rinaldo as a player. But why not see what happens, and if the player improves. Or wait to see how he is actually used in games that count, before making it a big deal. I see nothing wrong with trying to make Rinaldo a better player.
- MJL

That's fine, but when you say, "why not see what happens, and if the player improves," how long should we wait? 10 games? 30 games? 3 more years? When he's 34? At what point are we given permission to say, "Well, he's just not that good." Please let me know so I can mark it down.

Is there no such thing as a decent hockey player who can fight and play physical?
- Jsaquella

Sure there's tons of them, but the organization has it in their heads that Rinaldo can be one.

It's not the spilled milk I'm worried about. It's the pouring of the new gallon into the broken pitcher that I mind.
- Jsaquella

That's a fair point but that's why I say let's give them the Benny of the doubt one more year here.

U don't think physical play and fights can stir up a hockey club?
- JoeRussomanno

I don't believe it correlates to winning hockey games, no.

get out
- -davies-

No really...

I think it's comical in that the Coach saying he is going to continue to evaluate Rinaldo in a PK role, has been vastly overblown. I think there are legitimate criticisms of Rinaldo as a player. But why not see what happens, and if the player improves. Or wait to see how he is actually used in games that count, before making it a big deal. I see nothing wrong with trying to make Rinaldo a better player.
- MJL

agreed.

U tell me. I was against bringing in another bully as gm.
- JoeRussomanno

I'm all in favor of adding a guy who was a big piece of the front office that built two Stanley Cup winners, regardless of his history as a player. Excluding a guy because he once played for the team is kind of dumb, especially when he's got Hextall's credentials as an assistant GM.

And need I remind you f my objection to hextall's hiring? I will so that so far he has impressed but nevertheless u had to know the bully method was alive and well with his promotion.
- JoeRussomanno

I applaud your avatar, but I think that Cimmerian has more sound logic than you. That's like saying the Capitals were going to all become goons and cheap shot artists when Dale Hunter was their coach, or that they'd all become world-class passers where Adam Oates was their coach.

I like Eich.
- Feanor

Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf mashed into one player.

Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf mashed into one player.
- Tomahawk

So a Ryan Getzlaf plus a player who throws cheap elbows and jumps other teams' superstars all while whining to the refs constantly? Sign me up!

And the evidence to back up his progression is...what, exactly?
- jmatchett383

My ability to watch the games...didn't say he was blowing everyone away with his progress, but I think there are bigger dogs for the lack of "developing" L Schenn, Coots, Laughton (inability to break onto the big club)...lots of guys who have "high upside" just haven't been there all the time yet, and possess a higher skill set than a career 4th liner in a system that has him play as a human wrecking ball...

my thought is that most of the kids that don't make the NHL is that they lack what Zac does have, the heart and drive to try and make himself better, skill gets you in the door...work ethic makes you elite...only time will tell if he can learn, if not he will be a career AHL'r...and nothing lost by trying him out this season to see if he can grow at a very low cost to the overall team...

I don't believe it correlates to winning hockey games, no.
- bradleyc4

I believe the team that played harder and more physical won not necessarily more skilled, knocked us out of the playoffs last year.