Paul Stewart: Rinaldo and Reform

You've got a pretty harsh review of a guy that hadn't been suspended in over 18 months. And while the play was horrible in its timing and poorly executed in its delivery, the shooting player changed positioning while Ronaldo was already committed to the hit, almost like the boarding calls when the offensive player turns his back at the last half-second.

The body armor these players wear takes away the fear of self preservation. Couple that with the increased speed and size of the players, and the "hit to hurt" mentality that is drummed in to them from a young age...and you have a recipe for disaster.

Rinaldo, he drives me nuts. For the most part he hits clean, but then he will do something stupid like this. What made me even more angry about the hit was the circumstances. Up 4-0 against a team that had already given up. No need for contact at ALL. It was stupid all the way around.

Add to that is statement saying that the Buffalo player should share some blame for putting himself in a vulnerable spot and I lose all sympathy for Rinaldo.

So spot on. While Rinaldo can be somewhat effective at times, you cant't help but wonder when the idiotic Rinaldo will rear his head again. He scores a goal but took 4 penalties in 1 game, including a 5 minute game misconduct. I personally thought they should have leveled a bigger suspension on him. I thought 10 games would have been good. The NHL is too wishy-washy with their suspension. You made a perfect reference to Gudas.

Why is it ok to make that hit just as long as the guy doesn't get hurt. And who is to say a concussion wont pop up for a day or 2 later, after his hearing. The NHL needs to drop the hammer on these hits. As long as they toe the line back and forth players will continue to do it.

While Rinaldo is completely at fault for his actions, the NHL needs to look at themselves in the mirror too and make a change to protect its players.

You've got a pretty harsh review of a guy that hadn't been suspended in over 18 months. And while the play was horrible in its timing and poorly executed in its delivery, the shooting player changed positioning while Ronaldo was already committed to the hit, almost like the boarding calls when the offensive player turns his back at the last half-second.
- Topshelf Mountain

I agree about the players turning to draw a boarding call. But what Rinaldo did was just stupid.

You've got a pretty harsh review of a guy that hadn't been suspended in over 18 months. And while the play was horrible in its timing and poorly executed in its delivery, the shooting player changed positioning while Ronaldo was already committed to the hit, almost like the boarding calls when the offensive player turns his back at the last half-second.
- Topshelf Mountain

It was a senceless unneeded hit in a meaningless game on a young non aggressive player by a player clearly needing some zanex that day. End of story

I agree about the players turning to draw a boarding call. But what Rinaldo did was just stupid.
- MBFlyerfan

You've got a pretty harsh review of a guy that hadn't been suspended in over 18 months. And while the play was horrible in its timing and poorly executed in its delivery, the shooting player changed positioning while Ronaldo was already committed to the hit, almost like the boarding calls when the offensive player turns his back at the last half-second.
- Topshelf Mountain

He should have gotten more. The player didn't "change positioning" at the last moment, he put his head down and let a slap shot go, and was then hit by Rinaldo. If the player has time to wind up and get a slap shot off, a player should have time to think "Maybe I shouldn't go for his head." Add to the fact that both feet left the ice and the fact that he went high to begin with, and he got off easy.

Spot on once again, Mr. Stewart.

I agree with the suspension but I don't agree with the people who say there is no need to throw a hit due to the score. Yes he could have used better judgement but are the Sabres going to stop trying to score and hit because of the score. No so why should the Flyers stop then. That is when you get hurt because you don't play all the way through.

He should have gotten more. The player didn't "change positioning" at the last moment, he put his head down and let a slap shot go, and was then hit by Rinaldo. If the player has time to wind up and get a slap shot off, a player should have time to think "Maybe I shouldn't go for his head." Add to the fact that both feet left the ice and the fact that he went high to begin with, and he got off easy.
- jmatchett383

Agreed

I'm sorry Paul, while I can't condone Rinaldo's hit, I think to single him out like this is unfair. This was just 1 incident for a player that likely is close to the tops of hits/ice time in the league. Sure he had a bad past in the AHL, but over his 3 seasons as a Flyer he had 1 fine, and this is his second suspension. To paint him in the mold of Patrick Kaleta, Matt Cooke (reformed), or Raffie Torres is just wrong.

I know your no fan of James Neal, but he has had more suspensions/Fines/reviews just this season then Rinaldo has had his entire NHL career. I don't think 1 poor decision, in 1 game, should tarnish the changes he is trying to make.

Good write-up, Paul. I do think that trust is still a major concern with Rinaldo, especially now that the Playoffs seem to be a realistic possibility.

However, I don't think the severity of which you positioned your argument is entirely valid. I think Rinaldo has come a long way, and has made noticeable strides in trying to clean his game up, but he does still have issues the Flyers need to keep an eye on.

I agree with the suspension but I don't agree with the people who say there is no need to throw a hit due to the score. Yes he could have used better judgement but are the Sabres going to stop trying to score and hit because of the score. No so why should the Flyers stop then. That is when you get hurt because you don't play all the way through.
- J35Bacher

There is no need to throw that kind of hit when the score is 4-0. What exactly would that hit accomplish anyway if the score was 0-0 late in the third? The puck was on its way to the corner. Its a pointless hit to attempt in general. He had his stick out to block the "shot" as it was, if he puts on the breaks he is in position for a breakout pass instead of being off balanced after delivering a hit like that. The hit was gutless, Rinaldo's explanation was just as gutless and the 4 game suspension was even more gutless.

He should have gotten more. The player didn't "change positioning" at the last moment, he put his head down and let a slap shot go, and was then hit by Rinaldo. If the player has time to wind up and get a slap shot off, a player should have time to think "Maybe I shouldn't go for his head." Add to the fact that both feet left the ice and the fact that he went high to begin with, and he got off easy.
- jmatchett383

I disagree with you on changing position. The shooters head drops a foot and a half during the shot. Rinaldo definitely made a desperation play right then, and I think that's where the launching effect comes into play. Was there intent? I don't think so. Was it a play that should be out of hockey? Certainly!

Edit: To blast him like this in an article because the popular belief is the guy is a goon, is cheap. And easy.

It was a senceless unneeded hit in a meaningless game on a young non aggressive player by a player clearly needing some zanex that day. End of story
- buffalo 1

Any team that pays for the services of Patrick Kaleta should not remark regarding another team's dirty player.

Any team that pays for the services of Patrick Kaleta should not remark regarding another team's dirty player.


- SchennBros

Just another ignorant comment. Go read the Sabre's board here maybe before commenting something like that. Almost ever single one of us posters had enough with his antics and stupidity.

I disagree with you on changing position. The shooters head drops a foot and a half during the shot. Rinaldo definitely made a desperation play right then, and I think that's where the launching effect comes into play. Was there intent? I don't think so. Was it a play that should be out of hockey? Certainly!
- Topshelf Mountain

What exactly would he accomplish with this so called act of desperation? The puck was already gone

Just another ignorant comment. Go read the Sabre's board here maybe before commenting something like that. Almost ever single one of us posters had enough with his antics and stupidity.
- Stripes77

Just another ignorant comment. Go read the Sabre's board here maybe before commenting something like that. Almost ever single one of us posters had enough with his antics and stupidity.
- Stripes77

Just as a lot of Flyers fans dig on Rinaldo. I for one think he is doing a good job walking the line. Sometimes when you have a guy like Rinaldo he crosses the line. I think if you watched his game night after night you would see that most of his hits, while devistating, are clean. Everyone makes mistakes, but I think you can see just by his time in the NHL and his role, he is one of the cleaner agitators in the league.

What exactly would he accomplish with this so called act of desperation? The puck was already gone
- Stripes77

To make the hit. I completely agree it was a poor hockey play and positionally stupid, my point is that I don't think its as bad as everyone is making it out. The concussion sucks, I know what they're like. But he was already going for the hit when the shooter was taking the shot.

Just as a lot of Flyers fans dig on Rinaldo. I for one think he is doing a good job walking the line. Sometimes when you have a guy like Rinaldo he crosses the line. I think if you watched his game night after night you would see that most of his hits, while devistating, are clean. Everyone makes mistakes, but I think you can see just by his time in the NHL and his role, he is one of the cleaner agitators in the league.
- SchennBros

Hes antics now disrupts the chemistry of the team. He was on his way to being a real hockey player now hes back to being nothign mroe than a punk. There is a time and a place for hits this one so far beyond not one of them. Just cause he wears the pumpin costume that your a fan of doesnt make it ok. Like Stripes said we all in Buffalo grew tired of Kaleta, just add Ronaldo to a list of people who dont deserve the lime light of the NHL.

Stupid, reckless, dangerous hit. In no way should Ruhwedel bear any culpability for putting himself in a vulnerable position. He was following through on a snapshot. This is nothing at all like a guy turning his back on a hit he knows is coming.

Rinaldo clearly left his feet to deliver this headshot. I know we have seen hits where a guy leaves his feet right after impact, "exploding through the hit." The primary objective of checking is to separate a player from the puck. I realize fear & intimidation play into this also, but I think it is completely unnecessary for a player to leave his feet at any time on a check, regardless if it is before or after impact. I can't envision a scenario where a guy keeping his skates on the ice throughout the entire process of the check- wow do I hate that phrase- would render the check less effective in separating a player from the puck. Only difference is it may make it harder to separate a player from his senses.

Four games for delivering a leaping chicken-wing directly to a guy's unprotected melon? How does the NHL possibly adjudicate like this with a straight face? The league could get rid of these sorts of hits quite easily if they truly wanted to. Hit offenders where it hurts them most- via long, unpaid suspensions.

What would stop a fourth liner from taking a run like that at a star player, especially during a playoff series? Is four games for a flying burrito directly at someone's head not the precedent the league has now set? I'll bet there's plenty of guys that would pay that price if it meant swinging a playoff series in their team's direction.

To make the hit. I completely agree it was a poor hockey play and positionally stupid, my point is that I don't think its as bad as everyone is making it out. The concussion sucks, I know what they're like. But he was already going for the hit when the shooter was taking the shot.
- Topshelf Mountain

The definition of a body check is to separate the player from the puck. Well the puck was gone already.

He wasn't going for the hit until the puck was gone and in fact had to "launch" himself up and back to make the hit. It's the EXACT hit that the league says they don't want but yet do nothing to prevent them from happening.

Hes antics now disrupts the chemistry of the team. He was on his way to being a real hockey player now hes back to being nothign mroe than a punk. There is a time and a place for hits this one so far beyond not one of them. Just cause he wears the pumpin costume that your a fan of doesnt make it ok. Like Stripes said we all in Buffalo grew tired of Kaleta, just add Ronaldo to a list of people who dont deserve the lime light of the NHL.
- hubie

I don't believe 1 bad hit is going to disrupt the chemistry of the team. Flyers fans aren't a fan of Rinaldo because of the penalities he takes. Some of them legit, some based on reputation by the Refs. Just like the one Paul has of him. Whether or not he wear the Flyers logo makes no differnce to me. This hit was dirty. It sucks for Buffalo. But Rinaldo is a clean hitter and an agitator.

If you want to get on "take this play out of the league" rant, that is fine. But using Rinaldo as an example is stupid, as history as a NHL player does not support the arguement. If you want a poster boy for "make and example" then use someone that is really dirty. Use James Neal. Use Alex Ovechkin. Use Patrick Kaleta. Not a guy that is serving his 2nd NHL suspension.