I think Rinaldo's problems are all between the ears. Not only is he a good skater, he is an above average skater by NHL standards, which means he is a really good skater. He is fast, plays physical, provides energy and all that stuff...

But, as I am fond of saying to my 8 year old daughter, he has POOR DECISION MAKING SKILLS. There is a neuron missing between his brain and his body. He does good things on the ice as some have mentioned, and then he turns around and throws that hit.






- MBFlyerfan

Intelligence, smarts, and hockey sense definitely aren't a part of Rinaldo's tool box.

Ding ding ding ding! We have a winner.

He doesn't get it, he's not likely to get it, and based on his interview last night, he doesn't seem to care about getting it.
- Jsaquella

His comments are really concerning. I still stand by my position that the Flyers are not the first team, not the only team, and not the last team to employ a "useless" player like Rinaldo. That doesn't change that Rinaldo is failing to become a more disciplined player, nor that he has only sometimes managed to do the small things well.

I know this all has been said before but I was really inspired by Voracek's passion last night. He is becoming a real leader with his play and desire to win. Just love the guy.

Also VDV has some nice puck deflection skills.

Add to the chorus for Manning. He played a simple effective game last night.
- Marc D

Agree with this! I know Voracek took himself off the ice for 15 minutes last night, but the emotion he showed was great to see. He's leading the NHL in scoring on a bottom 5 team. Not easy to do. Also, a lot of scorers are primma donnas. Voracek showed last night he can lead. I'm totally sold on him. I hope the Flyers lock him up for a long time.

Ding ding ding ding! We have a winner.

He doesn't get it, he's not likely to get it, and based on his interview last night, he doesn't seem to care about getting it.
- Jsaquella

Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last night, which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men.

I know this all has been said before but I was really inspired by Voracek's passion last night. He is becoming a real leader with his play and desire to win. Just love the guy.

Also VDV has some nice puck deflection skills.

Add to the chorus for Manning. He played a simple effective game last night.
- Marc D

VDV is playing awesome hockey right now. He was a solid little find. He's effectively replaced Adam Hall IMO.

Manning was AWESOME last night. Get this kid in for more games for the love of god. Hes the Phantoms best player for a reason.

just using him as an example, c'mon man you gonna tell me growing up with this team from the bully days to now, that hit was the epitome of all things evil like its being made out to be? he took a run at a key player, i'll take chris letang out of the game for zarinaldo every (frank)ing day
- JoeRussomanno

Then what happens when the Pens thug does the same to Giroux or Voracek? I'm sure nobody had an issue with Jayson Megnagiving Mason a concussion, because hey, it's a physical sport, right?

The game has changed since the Bullies days.

Nope, and he shouldn't. He makes his living as a high energy, 4th line player that hits like a mack truck. Its the one thing he's really, really good at.

You're asking Tony Montana to stop selling coke because it ruins peoples lives. Until somebody runs up in Zacs mansion and blows him to bits, he has no reason to stop.

I disagree he's as bad at hockey as everyone says he is. He had a great shift on the first goal. He lacks skill, but so does Grossman and plenty of other players in the league that have carved out specialist roles.
- mochoson

I agree with you completely that Rinaldo is not as bad at hockey as a lot of people are saying he is. However, wnating him removed from the lineup because of his lack of discipline at times, taking too many penalties, and his poor decision making at times is a valid argument. No way around that.

do you revel in the fact the flyers beat the old red army team back in the 70's?
- JoeRussomanno

Considering I wasn't born then yet.. I guess I'm impartial.. ?

Agree with this! I know Voracek took himself off the ice for 15 minutes last night, but the emotion he showed was great to see. He's leading the NHL in scoring on a bottom 5 team. Not easy to do. Also, a lot of scorers are primma donnas. Voracek showed last night he can lead. I'm totally sold on him. I hope the Flyers lock him up for a long time.
- PLindbergh31

Yep. He and G are the only two untouchables, imho.

Then what happens when the Pens thug does the same to Giroux or Voracek? I'm sure nobody had an issue with Jayson Megnagiving Mason a concussion, because hey, it's a physical sport, right?

The game has changed since the Bullies days.
- Jsaquella

Not to mention, what member of the Bullies were completely useless in a hockey sense? I think the answer is zero. Dave Schultz currently has more career hat tricks than Giroux does.

Nope, and he shouldn't. He makes his living as a high energy, 4th line player that hits like a mack truck. Its the one thing he's really, really good at.

You're asking Tony Montana to stop selling coke because it ruins peoples lives. Until somebody runs up in Zacs mansion and blows him to bits, he has no reason to stop.

I disagree he's as bad at hockey as everyone says he is. He had a great shift on the first goal. He lacks skill, but so does Grossman and plenty of other players in the league that have carved out specialist roles.
- mochoson

Well when Grossmann starts taking stupid selfish penalties, becomes a forward with no discernable offensive skill, and is constantly taking runs at players and getting way out of position, he should be scratched as well.

I agree with you completely that Rinaldo is not as bad at hockey as a lot of people are saying he is. However, wnating him removed from the lineup because of his lack of discipline at times, taking too many penalties, and his poor decision making at times is a valid argument. No way around that.
- MJL

That's where I am. He cannot be trusted. The risk far outweighs the reward.

Agree with this! I know Voracek took himself off the ice for 15 minutes last night, but the emotion he showed was great to see. He's leading the NHL in scoring on a bottom 5 team. Not easy to do. Also, a lot of scorers are primma donnas. Voracek showed last night he can lead. I'm totally sold on him. I hope the Flyers lock him up for a long time.
- PLindbergh31

Totally agreed with the both of yous. I certainly won't complain about him dropping the gloves. It's not ideal, having a top scorer sit for 17 minutes, but this wasn't some lame premeditated show fight. He stood up for himself and showed fire. I hope the extension is already drawn up and ready to go.

The hit irks me less than the reaction afterwards... after all this time, he still just doesn't get it. It's like it never entered his mind that his teammates had to work like crazy to let him off the hook. Instead, he's taking credit for turning the tide?


- Tomahawk

The hit,in and of itself, was bad, but not 6 games bad. Had it been a guy with. No record, it might have gotten 2 or 3 games at most.

But the attitude afterwards, the complete ignorance of the circumstances and the glib way he talked about it...he doesn't even care how he hurt the team last night.

Not to mention, what member of the Bullies were completely useless in a hockey sense? I think the answer is zero. Dave Schultz currently has more career hat tricks than Giroux does.
- PLindbergh31

Random, irrelevant stat, but nonetheless

Exactly. And part of his attitude has been created by the Flyers. Never a healthy scratch, rewarded with a contract extension after a year of regression etc... The Flyers are basically his enabler.
After his display last night I would have him on the bus to Lehigh Valley so fast his head would spin.

His smug attitude after the game was sickening.
- PLindbergh31

They absolutely are his enabler. He's done this poop time and time again, and the Flyers did nothing but encourage it

...he doesn't even care how he hurt the team last night.
- Jsaquella

[ZR] We won. Because of me. You're welcome. [/ZR]

Love that movie
- Tomahawk

Me too, I watch it at least once a month.

Totally agreed with the both of yous. I certainly won't complain about him dropping the gloves. It's not ideal, having a top scorer sit for 17 minutes, but this wasn't some lame premeditated show fight. He stood up for himself and showed fire. I hope the extension is already drawn up and ready to go.
- BulliesPhan87

No doubt. A lot of times you see top players on teams that aren't likely to make the playoffs, cash in their chips early. Giroux and Voracek give 100% every game. They are two franchise players you can build around.

I agree with you completely that Rinaldo is not as bad at hockey as a lot of people are saying he is. However, wnating him removed from the lineup because of his lack of discipline at times, taking too many penalties, and his poor decision making at times is a valid argument. No way around that.
- MJL

There's sporadic showings of accountability through benchings on this team. If everyone want's Rinaldo scratched after the All Star Break, Matt Read should sit with him.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Zac is a guy that should be assessed on a game to game basis anyway. He's the 12-13th forward. He needs to earn every minute of ice time he gets. On a contending team, chances are he's scratched almost as much as he plays. Doesnt mean he doesn't have a spot on this team or a spot in the league.

He lacks self control and I don't just mean it in terms of penalties and dirty hits. He needs to understand when the team needs energy and when the team needs him to take a good shift. He chases hits and gets out of position too much.

I thought Raffl and Simmonds did a lot of the work on the goal but Rinaldo did a great job of cutting off the boards which led to the blind pass up the middle.
- PhillySportsGuy

Total agreement. Rinaldo is constantly skating around looking for the big hit.

No doubt. A lot of times you see top players on teams that aren't likely to make the playoffs, cash in their chips early. Giroux and Voracek give 100% every game. They are two franchise players you can build around.
- PLindbergh31

Aside from last night, so many games have been joyless to watch. Those two put on enough of a show to keep me coming back. I do hope things turn around quickly, they deserve it.

Nope, and he shouldn't. He makes his living as a high energy, 4th line player that hits like a mack truck. Its the one thing he's really, really good at.

You're asking Tony Montana to stop selling coke because it ruins peoples lives. Until somebody runs up in Zacs mansion and blows him to bits, he has no reason to stop.

I disagree he's as bad at hockey as everyone says he is. He had a great shift on the first goal. He lacks skill, but so does Grossman and plenty of other players in the league that have carved out specialist roles.
- mochoson

I'm askingRinaldo to stop because it can hurt his team. If the Pens pump in 2 or 3 goals on the 5 minute PP, there's a different outcome. If you're a team in the midst of a playoff race, those one or two points can be crucial.

Nobody is saying he shouldn't hit, they're saying he needs to control himself so his hitting doesn't hurt the team.

Holy hell, didn't realize the Wings were within 1pt of the top-spot in the East.

Total agreement. Rinaldo is constantly skating around looking for the big hit.
- Daveflyers36

If he hits clean, and knows then to throw the hit and when to back off to play sound positional hockey, that's great.

But it's been, what, 4 years now? When's that going to start happening?