I hear you. But this aspect raises the question...how long after a player gives up possession of the puck is an opposing checker permitted to finish his imminent check? If you look at the real time video with game clock, Rinaldo contacts Letang in what's probably just shy of a second after he gets rid of the puck. That's not that late by practical on-ice NHL standards...we both know that players are basically permitted by the officiating crew to finish their checks within a certain amount of time after their target gets rid of the puck.

But what happens when it comes down to interpretation of the rule after the fact, by the disciplinary committee? Do they just use their subjective judgement as well or does the rule indicate a specific amount of time allowed in such situations?
- exlund

well, he had enough time to choose to leave his feet. i get what youre saying. but to me, it was late. late, high, from behind, and left his feet. thats all of the boxes checked to me.

No, he's actually like that.
- Jsaquella

- 77rams

he's right. i am.

If Letang had time to admire his play, how was it not a late hit?
- Jsaquella

i don't think rinaldo blatantly hit him well after the play. i realize the rules have changed a bit but they need to make it more clear- if a guy clears the zone and the play has clearly moved on then that's where i see a late hit occur- it has to be blatantly behind the play IMO. im of the school of thought that he was finishing his check- whether it was clean or not. i don't think anyone can make a solid argument that the play was "long-gone" and well beyond where the hit took place. that's a whole 'nother story where the league needs to figure out the difference between "late hit after the play" and "finishing a check" which i think is a huge grey area that shouldn't be that hard to figure out.

i don't think letang made much effort to protect himself or make a play and get out of the way- i don't buy that he wasn't expecting to get hit...it's hockey...you should ALWAYS expect to get hit.

well, he had enough time to choose to leave his feet. i get what youre saying. but to me, it was late. late, high, from behind, and left his feet. thats all of the boxes checked to me.
- stayinthefnnet

It really doesn't matter what we think. A few may have a disturbing point of view, but that's all.

The league will do the right thing and give him a well deserved vacation. Next, hopefully, the team will do so as well.

i still dont necessarily understand how even such a steakhouse planning out would work.

like was it just okay we know they get riled up by extra cirriculars so lets be chippy? if thats the case then good for him. thats being a good captain.

but then when you look at the fights, i just dont see it. if giroux actually could tell rinaldo when or when not to be a (frank)ing jackass, dont you think hed tell him sometimes when he actually shouldnt do it? and the other fights, they were the type of guys on the pens that arent exactly strangers to it. yeah. lets send out the two slight euros against those guys. and the jake one really just seemed to be reactionary. and if it wasnt, why would you choose to have jake and scuds in the box for 5 a piece? thats not good for the flyers.

rinaldo was an abomination. but i dont think giroux was sitting in the back table of del frisco's planning out some strategic course of attack

i don't think rinaldo blatantly hit him well after the play. i realize the rules have changed a bit but they need to make it more clear- if a guy clears the zone and the play has clearly moved on then that's where i see a late hit occur- it has to be blatantly behind the play IMO. im of the school of thought that he was finishing his check- whether it was clean or not. i don't think anyone can make a solid argument that the play was "long-gone" and well beyond where the hit took place. that's a whole 'nother story where the league needs to figure out the difference between "late hit after the play" and "finishing a check" which i think is a huge grey area that shouldn't be that hard to figure out.

i don't think letang made much effort to protect himself or make a play and get out of the way- i don't buy that he wasn't expecting to get hit...it's hockey...you should ALWAYS expect to get hit.
- black_francis

he left his feet, hit high and rom behind with the player being defenseless against the boards and face basically against the glass.it was a cheap, poop, dirty unnecessary hit. (frank) rinaldo. i don't want him on the team.

he's right. i am.
- hammarby31

A bucket list item of mine is to be in the same vicinity as you for a hockey game, just for the possibility of you blowing a gasket.

and if letang did get rid of the puck and it was "long gone" then he would theoretically have time to get out of a vulnerable position.

i still dont necessarily understand how even such a steakhouse planning out would work.

like was it just okay we know they get riled up by extra cirriculars so lets be chippy? if thats the case then good for him. thats being a good captain.

but then when you look at the fights, i just dont see it. if giroux actually could tell rinaldo when or when not to be a (frank)ing jackass, dont you think hed tell him sometimes when he actually shouldnt do it? and the other fights, they were the type of guys on the pens that arent exactly strangers to it. yeah. lets send out the two slight euros against those guys. and the jake one really just seemed to be reactionary. and if it wasnt, why would you choose to have jake and scuds in the box for 5 a piece? thats not good for the flyers.

rinaldo was an abomination. but i dont think giroux was sitting in the back table of del frisco's planning out some strategic course of attack
- stayinthefnnet

i don't see it either. aside from the rinaldo play, which is well documented as being terrible, nothing was outrageous and seemed like an orchestrated gong show. it's (frank)ing absurd.

he left his feet, hit high and rom behind with the player being defenseless against the boards and face basically against the glass.it was a cheap, poop, dirty unnecessary hit. (frank) rinaldo. i don't want him on the team.
- hammarby31

i agree it was a bad hit. not defending the hit, just not agreeing with everyone as to why it was bad. see my previous post.

A bucket list item of mine is to be in the same vicinity as you for a hockey game, just for the possibility of you blowing a gasket.
- tangent_man

we can arrange that. problem is the flyers need to be in the playoffs for that to happen at this point. my regular season emotions have been dialed way, way down. when the flyers get back to the playoffs we'll talk. it's fun for the whole family.

i don't see it either. aside from the rinaldo play, which is well documented as being terrible, nothing was outrageous and seemed like an orchestrated gong show. it's (frank)ing absurd.
- hammarby31

and even if it did. how the (frank) would that guy know about it? was he just having a casual meal a booth over?

as far a timing is concerned that hit should be allowed. finishing the check.
he left his feet and hit the numbers. not legal.

he left his feet, hit high and rom behind with the player being defenseless against the boards and face basically against the glass.it was a cheap, poop, dirty unnecessary hit. (frank) rinaldo. i don't want him on the team.
- hammarby31

Yeah, I've officially had enough of him. He just can't seem to reel himself in at all.

and even if it did. how the (frank) would that guy know about it? was he just having a casual meal a booth over?
- stayinthefnnet

that's what upsets me. you shouldn't be able to print that poop without proof, and even if giroux DID talk about the guys playing chippy, nothing that happened in the game indicates it was orchestrated and looked like a scene out of slap shot.

the teams don't like each other, the games are generally chippy in philadelphia, and it was. it was entertaining. aside from the bad hit, nothing was wrong with that game from either team.

Yeah, I've officially had enough of him. He just can't seem to reel himself in at all.


- tangent_man

his negatives FAR outweigh his positives. and i'm fuming he has an extension. get. off. my. lawn.

we can arrange that. problem is the flyers need to be in the playoffs for that to happen at this point. my regular season emotions have been dialed way, way down. when the flyers get back to the playoffs we'll talk. it's fun for the whole family.
- hammarby31

I'm not so sure about that last part, but if you say so...

I'm not so sure about that last part, but if you say so...
- tangent_man

it's not when i accidentally injure you. it's been known to happen.

Yeah, I've officially had enough of him. He just can't seem to reel himself in at all.


- tangent_man

i personally think berube encourages him.

that's what upsets me. you shouldn't be able to print that poop without proof, and even if giroux DID talk about the guys playing chippy, nothing that happened in the game indicates it was orchestrated and looked like a scene out of slap shot.

the teams don't like each other, the games are generally chippy in philadelphia, and it was. it was entertaining. aside from the bad hit, nothing was wrong with that game from either team.
- hammarby31

as much as i hate that it works, giroux gathering the troops and telling them to play chippy is (frank)ing smart. good on him if he did. again, i dont think he said alright zac you look for a star and you (frank)ing murder him. if he did, then thats poopty. but again, if zac is dumb enough to do so, he better hope giroux gives him a (frank)ing stipend when hes out of the league.

but yeah. i just dont know how you print something without any sort of foundation. especially at a major publication.

i don't think rinaldo blatantly hit him well after the play. i realize the rules have changed a bit but they need to make it more clear- if a guy clears the zone and the play has clearly moved on then that's where i see a late hit occur- it has to be blatantly behind the play IMO. im of the school of thought that he was finishing his check- whether it was clean or not. i don't think anyone can make a solid argument that the play was "long-gone" and well beyond where the hit took place. that's a whole 'nother story where the league needs to figure out the difference between "late hit after the play" and "finishing a check" which i think is a huge grey area that shouldn't be that hard to figure out.

i don't think letang made much effort to protect himself or make a play and get out of the way- i don't buy that he wasn't expecting to get hit...it's hockey...you should ALWAYS expect to get hit.
- black_francis

It wasn't blatantly late, but it was close enough to be borderline. Combine the other aspects and I think the call & league action is warranted

that's what upsets me. you shouldn't be able to print that poop without proof, and even if giroux DID talk about the guys playing chippy, nothing that happened in the game indicates it was orchestrated and looked like a scene out of slap shot.

the teams don't like each other, the games are generally chippy in philadelphia, and it was. it was entertaining. aside from the bad hit, nothing was wrong with that game from either team.
- hammarby31

I'm ashamed to admit I'm a little lost regarding this supposed planned out attack.

What's it about?

i personally think berube encourages him.
- black_francis

It wouldn't surprise me if someone is, but to be honest, I don't think he needs too much encouragement. The fact that he's being rewarded with more icetime than more skilled players is a green light for him.

It wasn't blatantly late, but it was close enough to be borderline. Combine the other aspects and I think the call & league action is warranted
- Jsaquella

i agree. he will and should be suspended. if it were based on it being "late" only i don't think i could agree with it. if hits could only happen right as a player touches the puck hits would rarely happen. there still needs to be the fear of getting hit a little after you make the play- the whole point is to get the player with the puck to haphazardly make a not-so-great play with the puck and force a turnover