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Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Rookie Camp and Game, Quick Hits
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J35Bacher
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 04.03.2014

Sep 4 @ 4:11 PM ET
The porn world could not contain him.
- jmatchett383

PLindbergh31
Location: NJ
Joined: 02.01.2008

Sep 4 @ 4:12 PM ET
After all the talk about wanting to be more disciplined from both the coach and general manager, and then make a trade where you send away an undisciplined scoring line player only to follow it up by re-signing probably the most on December the discipline player on your team, it sends a strange and inconsistent message.

Yes it's a minor contract that can be buried in the minor-league without any kind of Penalty. However at the same time, it rewards a guy who regressed badly and I think that's where the problem lies for me. I just don't see the need to reword a guy after he's coming off a year where he took a big step backwards, especially since it was in an area that you've identified as a issue for the team in general

- Jsaquella


Nail on the head man. I honestly don't see him being sent the minors. Has he spent one day with the Phantoms the last few years? I don't know, when I look around the NHL I don't see players like Rinaldo on contending teams. I don't think his assets play well in the playoffs. Is he going to agitate players into taking penalties? Highly doubtful. A perfect way to describe Rinaldo is this... He's got a good motor, zero skill, and even less brains.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 4:13 PM ET
Nail on the head man. I honestly don't see him being sent the minors. Has he spent one day with the Phantoms the last few years? I don't know, when I look around the NHL I don't see players like Rinaldo on contending teams. I don't think his assets play well in the playoffs. Is he going to agitate players into taking penalties? Highly doubtful. A perfect way to describe Rinaldo is this... He's got a good motor, zero skill, and even less brains.
- PLindbergh31


Yeah, about 3 months worth.
aflyerpower8
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: AL
Joined: 06.03.2014

Sep 4 @ 4:15 PM ET
Nail on the head man. I honestly don't see him being sent the minors. Has he spent one day with the Phantoms the last few years? I don't know, when I look around the NHL I don't see players like Rinaldo on contending teams. I don't think his assets play well in the playoffs. Is he going to agitate players into taking penalties? Highly doubtful. A perfect way to describe Rinaldo is this... He's got a good motor, zero skill, and even less brains.
- PLindbergh31


You undervalue the energy he brings. For a team that looked lethargic a lot last year, having someone who can get the team/fans into the game with big hits and fights is a big plus. If he can round out the other aspects of his game (mainly defensively), he could be one of the best energy guys in the league.

He is only 24 and the will to win/improve is evident, so I expect him to get better if he is given a chance.
Jsaquella
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Bringing Hexy Back
Joined: 06.16.2006

Sep 4 @ 4:16 PM ET
Like who? Good players know they will get paid as long as they keep producing. Bottom six players will get contracts as long as they can produce or provide a quality the team wants.


Could the message also be if you play hard and work hard we reward you?


I am not defending or saying the deal is great just that i don't see why everyoneis hating on it like we just signed George Parros toa 3 year 12 million dollar deal

- J35Bacher


I'm viewing it more from the angle that they say they want more discipline and then turn around and extend their most undisciplined player a year early, coming off a bad year.

Saying one thing & doing the opposite is not a good way to do business
J35Bacher
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 04.03.2014

Sep 4 @ 4:18 PM ET
Nail on the head man. I honestly don't see him being sent the minors. Has he spent one day with the Phantoms the last few years? I don't know, when I look around the NHL I don't see players like Rinaldo on contending teams. I don't think his assets play well in the playoffs. Is he going to agitate players into taking penalties? Highly doubtful. A perfect way to describe Rinaldo is this... He's got a good motor, zero skill, and even less brains.
- PLindbergh31



Shawn Thorton
Ryan Reeves
Daniel Carcillo
Tanner Glass
Paul Bissonette
Patrck Bordeleau


Are all these guys significantly better then Rinaldo? They seem to do fine on winning teams.
MrBigglesworth
Location: PA
Joined: 01.30.2008

Sep 4 @ 4:19 PM ET
Parros' stache alone, in its heyday, was worth 3 years @ $12M...per year.
- jmatchett383



Is Ray Whitney retired yet?
Feanor
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: DE
Joined: 02.13.2013

Sep 4 @ 4:19 PM ET
He's got to take that ice time from someone. Giroux will keep his, Couts will stay high against the other teams top line, now he and Vinny are battling for around 20 minutes even strength and Vinny gets the better line mates.
- aflyerpower8


Put our best six forwards on the top two lines with BSchenn-Giroux-Voracek and Read-Couturier-Simmonds and let them (hopefully) dominate. Coots will still get a lot of tough matchups, but that shouldn't be the only minutes he gets.

Then I would like to see the 3rd and 4th lines get similar amounts of ice time. Send Umberger-Lecavalier-Akeson out against the weaker opposition, and see if they can cook up some chemistry as a secondary scoring line. Then send out Raffl-Laughton-Bellemare/Rinaldo for the tougher matchups where defense/grit is more important.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 4:19 PM ET
You undervalue the energy he brings. For a team that looked lethargic a lot last year, having someone who can get the team/fans into the game with big hits and fights is a big plus. If he can round out the other aspects of his game (mainly defensively), he could be one of the best energy guys in the league.

He is only 24 and the will to win/improve is evident, so I expect him to get better if he is given a chance.

- aflyerpower8


If his will to win/improve is evident, then why did he regress last year? Given that, what leads you to believe he will not regress further or stagnate?

And while energy is important, so is not hurting your team with stupid penalties, back hockey skills, and suspensions.
J35Bacher
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 04.03.2014

Sep 4 @ 4:20 PM ET
I'm viewing it more from the angle that they say they want more discipline and then turn around and extend their most undisciplined player a year early, coming off a bad year.

Saying one thing & doing the opposite is not a good way to do business

- Jsaquella



Yes. But you have to also let him try and improve too. Yes he had a down year. The year before he seemed to play solid and draw a lot of penalties. You also can't send the message that one mistep and your gone. He is 24. If he struggles again this year in camp or in the ice time he dos get I don't think they will hesitate to send him down or park him in the suite.
Tomahawk
Location: Driver's Seat: Mitch Marner bandwagon. Grab 'em by the Corsi.
Joined: 02.04.2009

Sep 4 @ 4:21 PM ET
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Sep 4 @ 4:21 PM ET
It does send a message, they're making a two year commitment to a guy coming off a season where he regressed and faltered when given more to do. Granted it's not a huge deal, but it clearly says they're willing to continue the relationship
- Jsaquella


They're making a two year commitment to a young player that they like, and feel has some potential. What it doesn't say is that they feel Rinaldo doesn't have to improve, or get better. Teams make future commitments to young players that had a down year all the time. There is not big message being sent that Rinaldo's regression last year was okay. Simply not the case, and really it's being overblown.
J35Bacher
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 04.03.2014

Sep 4 @ 4:23 PM ET
If his will to win/improve is evident, then why did he regress last year? Given that, what leads you to believe he will not regress further or stagnate?

And while energy is important, so is not hurting your team with stupid penalties, back hockey skills, and suspensions.

- jmatchett383



Because guys never have bad seasons?

So then there should not be any complaints about Hartnell being traded. He regressed. Never got back to 30 goals.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 4:23 PM ET
Shawn Thorton
Ryan Reeves
Daniel Carcillo
Tanner Glass
Paul Bissonette
Patrck Bordeleau


Are all these guys significantly better then Rinaldo? They seem to do fine on winning teams.

- J35Bacher


Guess you could include the current-day Jamal Mayers as well.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 4:25 PM ET
Because guys never have bad seasons?

So then there should not be any complaints about Hartnell being traded. He regressed. Never got back to 30 goals.

- J35Bacher


I'm not saying he can/can't improve. I'm saying it's not a given that he will improve. Two very different things. But enjoy the twist and shout.

You basically said he will improve, and I said he didn't improve last season. I never said it's impossible to improve in the future, just that I don't see it as a fate-driven given the way yo do,
J35Bacher
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 04.03.2014

Sep 4 @ 4:25 PM ET
Guess you could include the current-day Jamal Mayers as well.
- jmatchett383


Not sure if your agreeing or not. But also I think each one of these guys makes more then Rinaldo. Not exact but I think
aflyerpower8
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: AL
Joined: 06.03.2014

Sep 4 @ 4:26 PM ET
If his will to win/improve is evident, then why did he regress last year? Given that, what leads you to believe he will not regress further or stagnate?

And while energy is important, so is not hurting your team with stupid penalties, back hockey skills, and suspensions.

- jmatchett383


Couts regressed two years ago and I didn't think that was a lost cause either. Watch his interviews, think about why coaches like him, and watch the effort he puts into every shift. He may stagnate, but it won't be because of a lack of effort on his part.
J35Bacher
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 04.03.2014

Sep 4 @ 4:26 PM ET
I'm not saying he can/can't improve. I'm saying it's not a given that he will improve. Two very different things. But enjoy the twist and shout.
- jmatchett383



If he doesn't improve I am all for cutting bait. His deal doesn't affect that at all.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 4:27 PM ET
Not sure if your agreeing or not. But also I think each one of these guys makes more then Rinaldo. Not exact but I think
- J35Bacher


I'm saying there are players in the same vein as him on winning teams...but most of them have a lot more restraint to their game, and all of them have a bit more overall skill than he does.
Feanor
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: DE
Joined: 02.13.2013

Sep 4 @ 4:28 PM ET
That's it exactly. If you could just be less reckless, he could be an effective player. The discipline is not just in avoiding penalties. It's also playing with in the structure of the system. He's out there running around trying to hit everybody and taking himself out of position which affects his defense negatively.
- Jsaquella


Rinaldo was given a chance to play on the PK, and even that didn't get him to stop taking so many penalties. Like he didn't get that being in the penalty box precluded him from killing penalties.
aflyerpower8
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: AL
Joined: 06.03.2014

Sep 4 @ 4:28 PM ET
I'm saying there are players in the same vein as him on winning teams...but most of them have a lot more restraint to their game, and all of them have a bit more overall skill than he does.
- jmatchett383


You might want to take Ryan Reaves off the list then.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 4:28 PM ET
If he doesn't improve I am all for cutting bait. His deal doesn't affect that at all.
- J35Bacher


The only issue I have with the deal is that it restricts them (a bit) from offseason UFA shopping and it takes up one of the 50 contract slots. Other than that, I don't care one way or another.
J35Bacher
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 04.03.2014

Sep 4 @ 4:29 PM ET
I'm saying there are players in the same vein as him on winning teams...but most of them have a lot more restraint to their game, and all of them have a bit more overall skill than he does.
- jmatchett383



And some are older and have learned to harness that. At 24 he can still have some time to become a better player.

BUt thanks for the conversation. I am out and off to soccer practice.
Jsaquella
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Bringing Hexy Back
Joined: 06.16.2006

Sep 4 @ 4:29 PM ET
Yes. But you have to also let him try and improve too. Yes he had a down year. The year before he seemed to play solid and draw a lot of penalties. You also can't send the message that one mistep and your gone. He is 24. If he struggles again this year in camp or in the ice time he dos get I don't think they will hesitate to send him down or park him in the suite.
- J35Bacher


He's had 3 NHL seasons. He's shown improvement in one if those seasons in one area-avoidance of penalties. He didn't play better defensively or provide more production. He wasn't a better player in terms of hockey, he just did a better job in drawing & avoiding penalties.

That's my issue. He skates fast & hits, and does nothing else especially well
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 4:30 PM ET
You might want to take Ryan Reaves off the list then.
- aflyerpower8


I said a bit more. Reaves career highs, while paltry, top Rinaldo's.
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