Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: My Take on Rinaldo and Emotion vs. Stupidity

Zac Rinaldo got his reputation for good reason: he can't help himself.

That pretty much sums it up, Bill. He COULD be effective if he controlled himself... but he apparently just can't do that.

It's a shame..

Edit: The refs used to give him a lot of rope. When caught for something, he would talk to the refs and get an explanation, and seemingly fixed his play. The past two years..? Completely lost all discipline and control, and has formed a bad reputation for himself.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: My Take on Rinaldo and Emotion vs. Stupidity
- bmeltzer

It just seems to me that Rinaldo lacks the mental acuity to control himself on the ice. Since his ceiling as a player is not all that high to begin with, I just don't see the point of keeping him around any more. Plus, with his reputation among officials, he will get penalized nearly every time he throws a hard hit, be it clean or dirty.

He needs to play elsewhere, and the Flyers need to move on from him.
As the Corleone's would say, it's not personal, it's just business.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: My Take on Rinaldo and Emotion vs. Stupidity
- bmeltzer

Nicely done, Bill.

Maybe the league needs to start punishing players who turn their backs, to make a play, next too the boards as well. IMO, If you turn your back to try and avoid a hit, then you deserve what you get. With that being said, Rinaldo is only on the Flyers because teams have the same types on their rosters. PLEASE spare me about other teams not having these types either. Over the years, The penguins, who whine the most about dirty play, continually employ one of the dirtiest to ever play. They called up Farnham, who's a dirty player, just for this game, but the Flyers are the ones who instigated it? LOL. Payback is a bi*ch for the Penguins and they simply can't handle it. They didnt have a problem when Neal was elbowing everyone or Crosby was slashing everyone !!!!!!

You nailed it with this post, Bill.

Nicely done, as always!

Excellent article, Bill.

As for all the "Flyers are goons" talk emanating from western Pennsylvania and elsewhere, let it be reminded that it was the Penguins and not the Flyers who recalled a player like Bobby Farnham -- a career AHL agitator/fighter albeit a middleweight -- specifically for this game and then returned him to the AHL. The Flyers did not summon heavyweights Zack Stortini or Jay Rosehill.

But the Penguins don't goon it up. Ever!

Dealing with Rinaldo on a regular basis around the rink, he is someone who is actually very easy to like as a person. He's always approachable, always in a good mood, enthusiastic and talkative. He's always the first one to say hello or initiate small talk conversation, and is both polite and laid back when he steps off the ice. He's especially good around kids at the rink.

...

the bigger issue is that he is still a work in progress in learning the nuances of defensive play at the NHL level.

...

Believe it or not, Rinaldo actually has nascent hockey skills that rarely surface in games.

Are you sure? I thought he was some sort of hockey devil who stole babies and taunted grandmothers while feasting on penalty minutes and forfeited salary.

Played like that when he briefly was with the London Knights in the OHL. He doesn't deserve to play with true hockey players in the NHL or at any level. Completely agree that his "contribution" had anything to do with the Flyers play.

That pretty much sums it up, Bill. He COULD be effective if he controlled himself... but he apparently just can't do that.

It's a shame..

Edit: The refs used to give him a lot of rope. When caught for something, he would talk to the refs and get an explanation, and seemingly fixed his play. The past two years..? Completely lost all discipline and control, and has formed a bad reputation for himself.
- WarriorHockey21

He came with a rep.... a combined 10 pre-NHL suspensions will do that... worked to reform it and gain some acceptability with the officials and then threw it all away again a few times over. That's his fault, no one else's.

Maybe the league needs to start punishing players who turn their backs, to make a play, next too the boards as well. IMO, If you turn your back to try and avoid a hit, then you deserve what you get. With that being said, Rinaldo is only on the Flyers because teams have the same types on their rosters. PLEASE spare me about other teams not having these types either. Over the years, The penguins, who whine the most about dirty play, continually employ one of the dirtiest to ever play. They called up Farnham, who's a dirty player, just for this game, but the Flyers are the ones who instigated it? LOL. Payback is a bi*ch for the Penguins and they simply can't handle it. They didnt have a problem when Neal was elbowing everyone or Crosby was slashing everyone !!!!!!
- twpguy

Yes, you are right, Letang deserved it because Pittsburgh employs Farnham and recalled him for the game. Who exactly is our equal to Zac Rinaldo? Steve Downie? Sure, Downie takes liberties. However champ, Downie at least exhibits other skills that gives people the idea he can play in this league. He has a 20-goal season on his resume. He has 8 goals and 21 points as a Penguin this year. Wake me up when Rinaldo gets a five goal season, or a 20-point season. He has 20 points in his NHL career. Way to shift blame champ.

Recalling Farnham initiated all this. This once again proves the insanity of you and people like you. Show some sense.

This is my favorite:

He came with a rep.... a combined 10 pre-NHL suspensions will do that... worked to reform it and gain some acceptability with the officials and then threw it all away again a few times over. That's his fault, no one else's.
- bmeltzer

Exactly, no excuse whatsoever.

Flyers, What a bunch of goons

Yes, you are right, Letang deserved it because Pittsburgh employs Farnham and recalled him for the game. Who exactly is our equal to Zac Rinaldo? Steve Downie? Sure, Downie takes liberties. However champ, Downie at least exhibits other skills that gives people the idea he can play in this league. He has a 20-goal season on his resume. He has 8 goals and 21 points as a Penguin this year. Wake me up when Rinaldo gets a five goal season, or a 20-point season. He has 20 points in his NHL career. Way to shift blame champ.

Recalling Farnham initiated all this. This once again proves the insanity of you and people like you. Show some sense.
- Oneonta Penguin

You're right. However a fan of team that in recent years has employed players like Matt Cooke, James Neal and Steve Downie should stop throwing stones inside of his glass house.

I think most of Bill's blog is accurate. However, its laughable to suggest Pittsburgh initiated all this thug like play from Rinaldo and Voracek because they recalled Bobby Farnham from the AHL. He is a guy that has 11 games experience and doesn't have a reputation close to the thug that took liberties on Letang. Bill, I think its irresponsible reporting blaming this on Pittsburgh for recalling Farnham. It's a joke really. But, then again, its typical.

Flyers, What a bunch of goons



- BruinBlood

I miss the days of Mel Bridgman, Stan Jonathan, Paul Holmgren, John Wensink, Behn Wilson and Terry O'Reilly. Those were fun times!

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: My Take on Rinaldo and Emotion vs. Stupidity
- bmeltzer

Quite possibly the best blog you have written here, Bill. Clear, concise, well thought out, factual, and without knee-jerk reactionary emotion.

If you're not the best in the biz right now, I want to know who is.

Thank you.

Maybe the league needs to start punishing players who turn their backs, to make a play, next too the boards as well. IMO, If you turn your back to try and avoid a hit, then you deserve what you get. With that being said, Rinaldo is only on the Flyers because teams have the same types on their rosters. PLEASE spare me about other teams not having these types either. Over the years, The penguins, who whine the most about dirty play, continually employ one of the dirtiest to ever play. They called up Farnham, who's a dirty player, just for this game, but the Flyers are the ones who instigated it? LOL. Payback is a bi*ch for the Penguins and they simply can't handle it. They didnt have a problem when Neal was elbowing everyone or Crosby was slashing everyone !!!!!!
- twpguy

Yes punish a player for playing the puck on the boards

I think most of Bill's blog is accurate. However, its laughable to suggest Pittsburgh initiated all this thug like play from Rinaldo and Voracek because they recalled Bobby Farnham from the AHL. He is a guy that has 11 games experience and doesn't have a reputation close to the thug that took liberties on Letang. Bill, I think its irresponsible reporting blaming this on Pittsburgh for recalling Farnham. It's a joke really. But, then again, its typical.
- Oneonta Penguin

I won't defend Rinaldo in the slightest, but what "thug play" did Voracek do? He didn't jump Scuderi from behind or hit him with his stick. He came right at him and fought him like a man, get over it.

Perfectly said, Bill.

I will be ecstatic if the Flyers jettison Rinaldo. Still no idea why they rushed into an extension. At least with a guy like Carcillo or Downie, it's a guy with skill that translates into stretches of good or at least productive play. Rinaldo barely scored 10 goals in juniors.

He's an embarrassment

You're right. However a fan of team that in recent years has employed players like Matt Cooke, James Neal and Steve Downie should stop throwing stones inside of his glass house.
- BiggE

Quite possibly the best blog you have written here, Bill. Clear, concise, well thought out, factual, and without knee-jerk reactionary emotion.

If you're not the best in the biz right now, I want to know who is.

Thank you.
- Scoob

He's the best!
Case closed!

You're right. However a fan of team that in recent years has employed players like Matt Cooke, James Neal and Steve Downie should stop throwing stones inside of his glass house.
- BiggE

UMMM ... funny thing is, those three players you mentioned, have shown they can play good hockey despite being idiots on the ice. Rinaldo hasn't. That is the major difference. Wake me up when Rinaldo becomes a competent player in this league. He dreams about being Matt Cooke or Steve Downie. Because when they aren't being retards on the ice, they can be effective players in this league. Rinaldo can't. That is something Flyer fans can't seem to grasp.

I think most of Bill's blog is accurate. However, its laughable to suggest Pittsburgh initiated all this thug like play from Rinaldo and Voracek because they recalled Bobby Farnham from the AHL. He is a guy that has 11 games experience and doesn't have a reputation close to the thug that took liberties on Letang. Bill, I think its irresponsible reporting blaming this on Pittsburgh for recalling Farnham. It's a joke really. But, then again, its typical.
- Oneonta Penguin

He didn't say initiated. Basically, the Pens, fans and Pittsburgh media need stop acting like the Flyers are the goons while having Downie, Sill and Farnham in the lineup, also after having players like Cooke, Neal, and Malkin.

But please, keep protesting.

I guess Rinaldo won't shed his insouciant indifference to league discipline until he finds himself out of a job?