Well heck if thats all it takes they should sign me to a contract. Im 49 and have a bad back and bum knees but I'll try really, really hard and I'll even hit someone if I can catch them!
- BiggE

Maybe you'll get a complimentary flyers participation trophy. Same size as the Stanley Cup because you gave good effort. That's all life is. If you try, people give you poop. No skill required

Well heck if thats all it takes they should sign me to a contract. Im 49 and have a bad back and bum knees but I'll try really, really hard and I'll even hit someone if I can catch them!
- BiggE

seriously. sign me up. ill even let them hit me once or twice

honestly, for as much as an idiot ive always thought hes been, i really dont even think i can fault him much for being "undisciplined" or whatever this season. he really hasnt stood out in a negative way in that manner to me, in all fairness. it just reminds me a bit of matt cooke though, where the struggle to stay on the good side of that line renders a lot of the effectiveness out of their game. so while i dont necessarily think rinaldo is coming up with huge detrimental penalties, i still just dont think he does much.
- stayinthefnnet

Rinaldo does one thing well, he skates fast. He will also occasionally throw a big hit.

Heres what he doesn't do well:
Pass
Shoot
Defend
Stay out of the box
Kill penalties
carry the puck

But hell, keep rolling him out there, he tries hard

Geez, Bellemare will be on the first plane back to France
- BiggE

He'll be the best protected Frenchman ever

Rinaldo does one thing well, he skates fast. He will also occasionally throw a big hit.

Heres what he doesn't do well:
Pass
Shoot
Defend
Stay out of the box
Kill penalties
carry the puck

But hell, keep rolling him out there, he tries hard
- BiggE

Rinaldo has been a similar player since his junior days..........And for me it was not enough to justify him being here let alone his contract extension

He'll be the best protected Frenchman ever
- PhillySportsGuy

That should be a big a relief to him if the Germans invade during the all star break

Rinaldo has been a similar player since his junior days..........And for me it was not enough to justify him being here let alone his contract extension
- ob18

Yeah, I don't get it either

That should be a big a relief to him if the Germans invade during the all star break
- BiggE

Inglorious trashstards

I'd like to see what criteria is being used to say that Rinaldo has played well. Berube's expanded his role, and he still doesn't do much. They use him and VandeVelde on the PK, which right now is the 6th worst PK in the NHL. His line gets buried in shots against at ES and Rinaldo himself hasn't been on the ice for a single shot attempt by the Flyers since they played Los Angeles.

People can say he's played well, but there's nothing outside of opinion to back it up, while there's a lot of indicators that say he's not an effective player.
- Jsaquella

He's a classic replacement-level player -- fine to carry when you're winning, but should be replaced when you're looking to improve and/or seeing non-production.

Hitting has a place in the game, as does effort and motivation. None of those outstrip the importance of in-game effectiveness.

Teams run through these guys like they're a dime a dozen, which they are. The Ryan Whites and Jordin Tootoos and Chris Thorburns of the world should never be chiseled in stone in anybody's lineup for 82 games -- and no one is saying there is no room for them in the league.

There's room when you're effective. Not when you're getting punished at ES and taking penalties or not winning draws or not scoring or whatever else it is a 11-12-13th forward is supposed to be doing.

Rinaldo has been a similar player since his junior days..........And for me it was not enough to justify him being here let alone his contract extension
- ob18

The sad part is, Rinaldo's not even close to the biggest issue the team faces.

Yeah, I don't get it either
- BiggE

I'd much rather had a player like a Laughton himself or somebody similar who can play better in any situation without hurting the team at least as much as a player like Rinaldo can and has done in his short career.

Rinaldo does one thing well, he skates fast. He will also occasionally throw a big hit.

Heres what he doesn't do well:
Pass
Shoot
Defend
Stay out of the box
Kill penalties
carry the puck

But hell, keep rolling him out there, he tries hard
- BiggE

that description also fits harry z. i dont see people clamoring for him to be brought back haha

The sad part is, Rinaldo's not even close to the biggest issue the team faces.
- Jsaquella

Nope & that is sad.

A player shouldn't lose his spot in the lineup due to injury.
- MJL

A player absolutely can. Especially in hockey. That doesn't make much sense

Inglorious trashstards
- PhillySportsGuy

bah. i just went on a diatribe about my fantasy squad in response to you and it got taken down.

The sad part is, Rinaldo's not even close to the biggest issue the team faces.
- Jsaquella

So true. Compared to lack of top level talent on D, poor even strength play and little if any scoring other than the top line, Rinaldo is basically a pimple on a tumor.

A player absolutely can. Especially in hockey. That doesn't make much sense
- Just5

If the team is playing well while the injured player is out I'd hesitate putting him back in right away just because he's ready to go.

I'd prefer to ride the momentum for a time being

I'd much rather had a player like a Laughton himself or somebody similar who can play better in any situation without hurting the team at least as much as a player like Rinaldo can and has done in his short career.
- ob18

Agreed.
A 4th line of Bellemare-Laughton-Akeson would be a major upgrade

Agreed.
A 4th line of Bellemare-Laughton-Akeson would be a major upgrade
- BiggE

That's my opinion & the Flyers coaches and management have shown how they are choosing to handle things for now.

bah. i just went on a diatribe about my fantasy squad in response to you and it got taken down.
- stayinthefnnet

So strict here

He's a classic replacement-level player -- fine to carry when you're winning, but should be replaced when you're looking to improve and/or seeing non-production.

Hitting has a place in the game, as does effort and motivation. None of those outstrip the importance of in-game effectiveness.

Teams run through these guys like they're a dime a dozen, which they are. The Ryan Whites and Jordin Tootoos and Chris Thorburns of the world should never be chiseled in stone in anybody's lineup for 82 games -- and no one is saying there is no room for them in the league.

There's room when you're effective. Not when you're getting punished at ES and taking penalties or not winning draws or not scoring or whatever else it is a 11-12-13th forward is supposed to be doing.
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed and agreed.

At least Rinaldo is cheap. My problem is not that he's on the roster, it's that he's rarely held accountable for his mistakes and undisciplined play. Granted this season the lack of discipline hasn't been as big an issue-he's probably taken more reputation calls than actual bad penalties-but that reputation is built off the past undisciplined play.

The big issue this season is, simply, that he has not been effective.

Agreed.
A 4th line of Bellemare-Laughton-Akeson would be a major upgrade
- BiggE

You could roll that line quite a bit too

i understand akeson hasnt been doing a ton yet. but at least to me we have seen the potential is still there for what he may be able to do. i think i would rather take my chances over a larger sample size to see if that could resurface than i would with rinaldo, who really isnt bringing much of anything. we know rinaldo will never bring offense. and its not as if he is some sort of defensive specialist who can be plugged in to reduce a defensive zone start for couturier.
- stayinthefnnet

He's been fine, considering the circumstances. Banished to the 4th-line, no PP time, asked to play like a plug. Imagine Brian Gibbons called up and being asked to play the role of Dan Carcillo. It's that stupid.

You could roll that line quite a bit too
- PhillySportsGuy

Yup, in any situation

Agreed and agreed.

At least Rinaldo is cheap. My problem is not that he's on the roster, it's that he's rarely held accountable for his mistakes and undisciplined play. Granted this season the lack of discipline hasn't been as big an issue-he's probably taken more reputation calls than actual bad penalties-but that reputation is built off the past undisciplined play.

The big issue this season is, simply, that he has not been effective.
- Jsaquella

Exactly -- all he's giving is "empty minutes" at best, taking penalties and getting scored on at worst.

It's not just him. And he's not the only problem on the team.

But here's the thing: Zac Rinaldo is a fixable problem. Chris Vandevelde is a fixable problem.

We all get it: Can't fix the defense right now. OK. That means that the ceiling for this team has a limit.

But nothing drives me more insane as when people ignore the fixable problems because there are some problems that are bigger.

There's no law saying that the Flyers can't ice a fourth line that is high in hockey sense and skating ability and defensive acumen. You can do that. You can find players to do that.