Zac Rinaldo has no place in the NHL. I, for one, hope they waive him to the AHL this season and buy out the second year of his deal this offseason...although burying him in the AHL would be better on their cap.

During 12/13, Rinaldo appeared to be changing his ways from oafish goon to "pest" which is fine with me. But far too many times since, he makes stupid, selfish, dangerous plays. That kind of player has no place in the game whatsoever. Give me a Jay Rosehill or Derek Engelland who will hit you hard, but (generally) clean. But as for the guys like Rinaldo, Neal, Kaleta, etc. give them 50 games as a minumum for their antics.

The problem is that that wasn't even a fight. Voracek went straight for Scuderi, who was still playing hockey and didn't even ask him to drop them. He just wrapped his head up, dropped his gloves and started swinging well before Scuderi dropped his gloves.

I do agree fighting has a place in the game, but not this "fight" that Voracek displayed.
- znagle

You also don't want a player like Voracek sitting out 17 minutes of a close game. Bad situation all around.

Excellent write up Ryan.
- burner087

Yer my BOY, Gunner!!

C'mon voracek got lit up on a good clean old school hip check and felt so embarrassed that he went after a guy who has never fought amd jumped him before he even knew what was going on.

If that was the other way around, you guys would be outraged... and I'm not saying borts on claude but like sutter on del zotto... it's stupid and not warranted.



Also.. Gunner no mention of sill sitting for goc after you wrote a whole blog on how goc is great
- nh4442

How is that any different from Letang going after defenseless old Timmonen in the playoffs a few years ago. It's only a problem if it happens to a penguins player.

It does when your 2-0 against said team this season lol
- RobFlyers#1

Na that still doesn't matter, we will make the playoffs; you wont. So end of the day we still come out on top.


Its just a shame that when Scuds threw his awesome hip check that it didn't snap one of Voracek's legs in half enough for it to splinter through his sock. Maybe next time.

Good take, Ryan. I agree with it all. If a guy keeps doing the same stuff, ala Carcillo and Rinaldo, that probably means the system isn't effectively deterring them. IMO, enforcers really don't enforce anything. They should be called reactors because they're merely reacting to these nasty hits by fighting a guy. What's the point after the fact?
- NickTheKid87

This. Enforcers won't stop anything. You could have had a lineup full of Sills and Carcillos and Scotts yesterday and Rinaldo still would have had hit Letang from behind.

They just don't belong in the game. I would prefer a fourth line of Arcobello - Goc - Rust instead of Adams, Sill and Farnham.

If I'm Goc right now I would be heading back to Germany or any other NHL team. He was scratched in favor of a guy who did nothing for us to win the game other than taking a penalty with 10 seconds left in the game, and than another in OT.

It's lasted more than four hours, so we should contact our physician..right?
- eichiefs9

I don't know but I'm sitting in a bathtub outdoors right now, overlooking Vancouver sound

It's a shame that Letang, an extremely enjoyable player to watch, is likely out for a few games.

Luckily in today's nhl where corsi, spreadsheets, and circles are more important than the eye test and what goes on on the ice, it's not that big of a deal.

Just replace Letang with Pouliot on the spreadsheet, change a circles color, and continue the regular season grind.

You also don't want a player like Voracek sitting out 17 minutes of a close game. Bad situation all around.
- NickTheKid87

He's lucky to only have had to sit out 17 minutes. He should have been tossed.

It's a shame that Letang, an extremely enjoyable player to watch, is likely out for a few games.

Luckily in today's nhl where corsi, spreadsheets, and circles are more important than the eye test and what goes on on the ice, it's not that big of a deal.

Just replace Letang with Pouliot on the spreadsheet, change a circles color, and continue the regular season grind.
- rangerdanger94

I really don't understand your weird crusade about statistical analysis, or why you feel the need to make everything about it.

I was saying that because of the garbage the Flyers continually did the whole night. I guarantee if Giroux was jumped the way Scuderi was then you all would be female doging and moaning. Would you still love the game if we were the cheap team with back shots and flying elbows to the head every time we'd play? Probably not. Sid can handle himself, he hasn't lost a fight in the NHL.
- znagle

First we would have to come in here and learn from you guys how to female dog and moan. Pens fans does it best. I stated earlier I didn't agree with the Rinaldo hit but the Pens had five minutes straight power play time and did nothing to make the Flyers pay. I thought it was a good game. Lots of emotion win or lose. Yeah Sid is the uncrowned champ in the NHL. Rinaldo would tear him apart.... Don't "Kid" yourself lol

This. Enforcers won't stop anything. You could have had a lineup full of Sills and Carcillos and Scotts yesterday and Rinaldo still would have had hit Letang from behind.

They just don't belong in the game. I would prefer a fourth line of Arcobello - Goc - Rust instead of Adams, Sill and Farnham.

If I'm Goc right now I would be heading back to Germany or any other NHL team. He was scratched in favor of a guy who did nothing for us to win the game other than taking a penalty with 10 seconds left in the game, and than another in OT.
- Conse

I really don't understand your weird crusade about statistical analysis, or why you feel the need to make everything about it.
- BINGO!

He just wants to be heard.

The problem is that that wasn't even a fight. Voracek went straight for Scuderi, who was still playing hockey and didn't even ask him to drop them. He just wrapped his head up, dropped his gloves and started swinging well before Scuderi dropped his gloves.

I do agree fighting has a place in the game, but not this "fight" that Voracek displayed.
- znagle

fact of the matter is we need to show less respect to the flyers. they let them take us off our game every single time for the last few seasons...im getting tired of the same ole pens

Na that still doesn't matter, we will make the playoffs; you wont. So end of the day we still come out on top.


Its just a shame that when Scuds threw his awesome hip check that it didn't snap one of Voracek's legs in half enough for it to splinter through his sock. Maybe next time.
- nbartley9

Good one. How's Letang? lol

I really don't understand your weird crusade about statistical analysis, or why you feel the need to make everything about it.
- BINGO!

What was the flyers corsi before and after the rinaldo hit?

Zac Rinaldo has no place in the NHL. I, for one, hope they waive him to the AHL this season and buy out the second year of his deal this offseason...although burying him in the AHL would be better on their cap.

During 12/13, Rinaldo appeared to be changing his ways from oafish goon to "pest" which is fine with me. But far too many times since, he makes stupid, selfish, dangerous plays. That kind of player has no place in the game whatsoever. Give me a Jay Rosehill or Derek Engelland who will hit you hard, but (generally) clean. But as for the guys like Rinaldo, Neal, Kaleta, etc. give them 50 games as a minumum for their antics.
- jmatchett383

I always had high hopes for Rinaldo as well. I thought his speed could turn him into a solid PK'er but no like you said he just completely goes off the grid and does something ridiculous. Basically he should have cost them the game last nite but by the grace of god our insanely inept PK showed up like it was full of Pavel Datsyuks and Jon Toews. The league needs to do more then 6 games to these types no doubt. It shouldnt matter if its Kris Letang or Nik Grossman getting hurt the punishment should be severe. The NHL needs to quit reacting with severe punishment only when a *high caliber* player goes down as a result of a dangerous hit.

Penguins fans crying about Rinaldo when they dress their own resident dirtbag in Downie I love it

How is that any different from Letang going after defenseless old Timmonen in the playoffs a few years ago. It's only a problem if it happens to a penguins player.
- idiotsallofu

Ding! Sounds about right

How is that any different from Letang going after defenseless old Timmonen in the playoffs a few years ago. It's only a problem if it happens to a penguins player.
- idiotsallofu

Defenseless? They both agreed to go and Letang whooped his ass. Giroux came after Sid when Sid was tangled with another player, Sid still had his gloves on while Giroux didn't and Sid still ended up tossing him.

What was the flyers corsi before and after the rinaldo hit?
- rangerdanger94

He's lucky to only have had to sit out 17 minutes. He should have been tossed.
- znagle

It was odd to see Jake like that because I never have before. Scuderi just stuffed him and he flipped (literally and figuratively). Maybe it was just the emotions of the rivalry, I don't know. Either way, I didn't like it as a Flyers fan or as a hockey fan.

It was odd to see Jake like that because I never have before. Scuderi just stuffed him and he flipped (literally and figuratively). Maybe it was just the emotions of the rivalry, I don't know. Either way, I didn't like it as a Flyers fan or as a hockey fan.
- NickTheKid87

Taking the NHL's leading scorer off the ice for 17 minutes after a clean hip check is the best thing Scuderi has done since coming back to Pittsburgh.

Good one. How's Letang? lol
- RobFlyers#1

Not sure, I assume we will be fine for the playoffs, which is a circumstance thankfully you wont be concerned with.


Also I had no issue with Rinaldo's hit, it was a bit late but that happens its a fast game; I wish he played for us; the dirtier the better.

If Babcock is available after the season you try to get him. Johnston is clueless.