VdV is a mystery to me. He's not a good skater. He's not very gifted offensively. Yet somehow, he has 6 goals. He is basically Patrick Thoresen, with luck (right down to the fact that they were both Oilers' cast-offs).
- jmatchett383

You could say the same about Simmonds too though. Just by watching him skate, shoot, handle the puck, you can tell he's not nearly as gifted as giroux, voracek, ect. He doesn't have that "smooth" style the girouxs, kanes, crosbys, seguins have, but he can still score a lot cuz he works/ plays his a$$ off. I'm gonna say the same goes for VDV. I hated him at the beginning of the season (thought he was another rinaldo), but he's really not that bad of a player. He's thrown in offensively when it really mattered a few times which is all you can ask for from a 4th line guy like him.

He has zero place in the NHL. The fact the Flyers employ this clown is downright embarrassing.
- PLindbergh31

Agreed. He needs to be released and I guarentee that no team that is trying to win will pick him up because Rinaldo has no upside whatsoever.

VdV is a mystery to me. He's not a good skater. He's not very gifted offensively. Yet somehow, he has 6 goals. He is basically Patrick Thoresen, with luck (right down to the fact that they were both Oilers' cast-offs).
- jmatchett383

He's a decent 4th line player, but lots of puck luck for vandevelde this year. Matt Read however can't buy a goal.

Coburn + B.Schenn + 2015 2nd for Oilers 2015 1st

Draft Eichel
Draft Strome
Win cup
- Streit2ThePoint

How'd you get it back from Boston?

I knew you'd make some lame comment that reflected zero comprehension of what I was saying. My nitpick specifically was with you're lame "only the Flyers have that kind of guy" comment, and it still rings true.

excellent work bro
- BulliesPhan87

I'm clueless I guess. I have no comprehension on the merits of Zac Rinaldo.

How you like my new avatar? In case you can't see, it has a # 47 helmet on!

Yep.. that comes to mind, but more than that.. Luke fumbles routine passes a lot. Another exchange between 2 d behind the net resulted in Ray having to block the errant pass from bouncing into the slot.. and this was with little pressure. It's always like that and it expends energy for no reason.
- Hextall271

It just amazes me how many players on this team can't complete a tape to tape pass.

The Flyers did not outplay the Pens. They were outshot 17-3 at one point. The game didn't change until the physical stuff started. The pens went 0-6 on the pp against the worst pk in the league. That was the difference in the game, not the Flyers outplaying the Pens.
- Daveflyers36

They absolutely outplayed the Pens in the 2nd and 3rd period when the shot differential heavily favored the Flyers. I agree that the PK was the difference.

He has zero place in the NHL. The fact the Flyers employ this clown is downright embarrassing.
- PLindbergh31

Right now, somewhere in the AHL is a player with actual hockey skills lamenting that Rinaldo has his NHL roster spot.

Coburn and B Schenn are 1st round picks. So they're actually getting 2 of them.

DUH!!!
- jmatchett383

Coots or B.Schenn plus Coburn and the Flyers 2015 first round pick may get it done.

Not to defend Zac, as it was a bad hit and put the team in a bad position, but if you replay the video and look at the angle of the camera that is from the PIT goalies angle, you can see Kris' numbers the entire time, was his back turned, yes, but I have seen far worse hits that did not result in an injury or a penalty...I think Zac initially was going for a hit to his side, Letang just never turned

Rinaldo just doesn't learn though, he is never going to get a favorable call, and his comment about the "speed" of the game is crap, if the game is moving too fast for him then maybe he should not be playing it anymore at the NHL level...

The poop the announcers were spewing last night is what drove this hit to a frenzy...and that is what they WANT...if they didn't do you think the NHL would sanction "Rivalry Night" and show the highlights of hits and fights for a hour before the game? This sort of hit and game just adds to the frenzy they try to create...

How'd you get it back from Boston?
- Tomahawk

shhhhhhhhhhhh

Right now, somewhere in the AHL is a player with actual hockey skills lamenting that Rinaldo has his NHL roster spot.
- Scoob

And I have zero doubt that once his suspension is over, Coach Face Punch will plug him right back in the lineup.

Jeff Carters best games came when he played with a chip on his shoulder. Giroux is incredibly dangerous at all times, and when he has a chip on his shoulder he is nearly unstoppable. We have seen what Voracek and Couts do when they are fired up.

What really needs to happen is that they need to play that way all the time. Play angry. Play with emotion. Skill is lacking throughout the lineup so you have to work that much harder. Bellemare said it. When they get back from the break, they need to play that style. Will they maintain that for a whole season. Nope. No team can. But they need to play angry hockey.
- jak521

remember our discussion eariler in the season on whether the Flyers problems were just execution that made them look like they're not playing hard? What you're referring to is what I was talking about earlier in the season. That's not to say, as I also said at that time, that there isn't execution issues.

I'm clueless I guess. I have no comprehension
- PLindbergh31

I'm glad you're finally coming to terms with this

It just amazes me how many players on this team can't complete a tape to tape pass.
- Daveflyers36

Absolutely. And my point is, that all adds up..It's a super fast game and those little errors mean forecheckers get on you and force the turnover rather than the puck getting cleared. On the PK it's been bad too.. a little fumble and the clear is cancelled etc.. Over a year it could account for a lot of goals.

VdV is a mystery to me. He's not a good skater. He's not very gifted offensively. Yet somehow, he has 6 goals. He is basically Patrick Thoresen, with luck (right down to the fact that they were both Oilers' cast-offs).
- jmatchett383

He seems to be an ok skater and has good size. He plays hard at all times and seems to be positionally sound with decent hockey sense. He also has decent enough hands to bury some of the chances he gets, which is something Thoresen lacked. All in all, he seems to be an ok 4th liner. Probably not a guy that will skate on the 4th line of a cup winner, but likely good enough for the 15-16 Flyers.

And I have zero doubt that once his suspension is over, Coach Face Punch will plug him right back in the lineup.
- PLindbergh31

If that actually happens I'll officially be done with him, too.

They absolutely outplayed the Pens in the 2nd and 3rd period when the shot differential heavily favored the Flyers. I agree that the PK was the difference.
- MJL

The Flyers did not have that many great scoring chances.

I'm clueless I guess. I have no comprehension on the merits of Zac Rinaldo.

How you like my new avatar? In case you can't see, it has a # 47 helmet on!
- PLindbergh31

Sure it is when Rinaldo has been a 4th line low minute player for the overwhelming majority of his career. They like Rinaldo over Akeson as a 4th line player. Next year if Morin or Gostisbehere starts the season in the AHL, does that mean they like the defenseman that make the team over those two, or is it about the circumstances and a number of variables involved?
- MJL

No idea what you're trying to say here.

So sure, they like Rinaldo over Akeson for the 4th-line... but we're talking about a 2nd-line spot right now.

Not to mention, when Akeson was actually up, he was stuck in that 4th-line role.

Of course, here's the banner headline in Kanida.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-the-game-with-dirty-hit/
- Hextall271

Ummmmmm I don't think Rinaldo was joking about hitting and/or hurting Letang. I think he really believes what he said.

shhhhhhhhhhhh
- Streit2ThePoint

That would be cool if McDonald's offered refunds that easily.

Coburn + B.Schenn + 2015 2nd for Oilers 2015 1st

Draft Eichel
Draft Strome
Win cup
- Streit2ThePoint

Doesn't Boston have our 2nd this year? (via the Isles)

Absolutely. And my point is, that all adds up..It's a super fast game and those little errors mean forecheckers get on you and force the turnover rather than the puck getting cleared. On the PK it's been bad too.. a little fumble and the clear is cancelled etc.. Over a year it could account for a lot of goals.
- Hextall271

And I do agree with the earlier post that the Flyers do need to consistantly play with more of an edge but without good players, it isn't going to help very much.

Absolutely. And my point is, that all adds up..It's a super fast game and those little errors mean forecheckers get on you and force the turnover rather than the puck getting cleared. On the PK it's been bad too.. a little fumble and the clear is cancelled etc.. Over a year it could account for a lot of goals.
- Hextall271

And I do agree with the earlier post that the Flyers do need to consistantly play with more of an edge but without good players, it isn't going to help very much.