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Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Rookie Camp and Game, Quick Hits
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jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 4:57 PM ET
I honestly don't even read his posts. I see Darth Vader & I kind of glaze over it until the next post.
- Jsaquella


Then you must have missed the fake MJL account from a year or so ago.
mayorofangrytown
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Downingtown, PA
Joined: 08.16.2006

Sep 4 @ 4:59 PM ET
That's the weird/scary thing. Rinaldo wasn't going after someone in a grudge match against a rival that got out of hand. He just lost his mind for a second when the Flyers had a 4-0 lead. And it would have have been one of his best games of the season. Scored a goal, was +2, and was on track to play 10+ minutes.
- Feanor

Maybe it was an allergic reaction to playing well.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 5:02 PM ET
Maybe it was an allergic reaction to playing well.
- mayorofangrytown


They were sagging, needed that energy boost.
Jsaquella
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Bringing Hexy Back
Joined: 06.16.2006

Sep 4 @ 5:02 PM ET
Another point about regression. Yes Couturier had regression, just like Rinaldo. However, despite that, Couturier was still an outstanding defensive player and elite level PK guy.

In the lockout season, Rinaldo improved in one area- the ratio if penalties taken vs penalties drawn. He wasn't a markedly better defender, didn't see his offense jump to where one would think he's a future 10-15 goal scorer and he didn't seem to have developed better hockey sense. He was a more effective agitator, that's it.

My own view is, if all a guy can do is agitate or fight, I really have no use for him. Give me a Marchand, Roussel, Laperriere or even Carcillo in his prime, because that crazy bastard could actually play a bit, as well as drive opponents batpoop insane
tangent_man
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: South Jersey
Joined: 11.28.2007

Sep 4 @ 5:04 PM ET
No argument there. But what I'm saying is that I has shown an inability to be disciplined within the structure of the system as well as taking too many penalties, over an extended period. I'd just be more tolerant had they waited until Rinaldo showed some positive progress
- Jsaquella


I get it. I'm still hopeful that Hexy has some kind of sign-and-trade idea in his head - the cap hit is 'send him down' friendly, and if he can find a team to take Rinaldo as a throw-in, I'm sure nobody here would really mind.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 5:06 PM ET
Another point about regression. Yes Couturier had regression, just like Rinaldo. However, despite that, Couturier was still an outstanding defensive player and elite level PK guy.

In the lockout season, Rinaldo improved in one area- the ratio if penalties taken vs penalties drawn. He wasn't a markedly better defender, didn't see his offense jump to where one would think he's a future 10-15 goal scorer and he didn't seem to have developed better hockey sense. He was a more effective agitator, that's it.

My own view is, if all a guy can do is agitate or fight, I really have no use for him. Give me a Marchand, Roussel, Laperriere or even Carcillo in his prime, because that crazy bastard could actually play a bit, as well as drive opponents batpoop insane

- Jsaquella


Rinaldo never has been a scorer, at any level. His main attributes have been and most likely always will be as a guy who can run around, hit, and fight. He doesn't have a high hockey IQ (by NHL standards), he doesn't have great puck skills, and his play away from the puck leaves a lot of be desired.

That said, his game does lend itself to helping the Flyers, as a 11th-13th forward, where he can help the team get going when it's in a rut, and he's not afraid to go to the defense of a teammate if needed. But you have to weight that against his deficiencies, and that's to be determined.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 5:07 PM ET
I get it. I'm still hopeful that Hexy has some kind of sign-and-trade idea in his head - the cap hit is 'send him down' friendly, and if he can find a team to take Rinaldo as a throw-in, I'm sure nobody here would really mind.
- tangent_man


Rinaldo > Downie
Jsaquella
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Bringing Hexy Back
Joined: 06.16.2006

Sep 4 @ 5:09 PM ET
I get it. I'm still hopeful that Hexy has some kind of sign-and-trade idea in his head - the cap hit is 'send him down' friendly, and if he can find a team to take Rinaldo as a throw-in, I'm sure nobody here would really mind.
- tangent_man


I think the first idea is that he can become a more disciplined and effective player. I don't see it, but I think they do. If I'm wrong , I'll be happy to admit it, because it would mean good things for the Flyers.

The benefit is, they can bury it without any real cap implications if he doesn't. I'm just not in agreement with the timing, more than anything else.
Jsaquella
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Bringing Hexy Back
Joined: 06.16.2006

Sep 4 @ 5:11 PM ET
Rinaldo never has been a scorer, at any level. His main attributes have been and most likely always will be as a guy who can run around, hit, and fight. He doesn't have a high hockey IQ (by NHL standards), he doesn't have great puck skills, and his play away from the puck leaves a lot of be desired.

That said, his game does lend itself to helping the Flyers, as a 11th-13th forward, where he can help the team get going when it's in a rut, and he's not afraid to go to the defense of a teammate if needed. But you have to weight that against his deficiencies, and that's to be determined.

- jmatchett383


There are positive aspects to his game, sure. I just prefer a guy that can do more. Even if it's a guy like Shelley, he wasn't a good player, but he was also not prone to mistakes and running around & being a positionally unsound guy
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Sep 4 @ 5:13 PM ET
Rinaldo never has been a scorer, at any level. His main attributes have been and most likely always will be as a guy who can run around, hit, and fight. He doesn't have a high hockey IQ (by NHL standards), he doesn't have great puck skills, and his play away from the puck leaves a lot of be desired.

That said, his game does lend itself to helping the Flyers, as a 11th-13th forward, where he can help the team get going when it's in a rut, and he's not afraid to go to the defense of a teammate if needed. But you have to weight that against his deficiencies, and that's to be determined.

- jmatchett383


I think really the point is that yea, drawing penalties and agitating the other team can help a team. But if that is really all you're offering to the team, then I don't know how much value you have. I think Rinaldo needs to progress to where he is helping the team in other ways. Which is why I've repeatedly made the statement that I want Rinaldo to be a hockey player first, and an agitator second. Well for the most part he has been an agitator first. I think that has to change if he's going to stay with the team. And I have to believe and hope that the coaches, especially Lapperiere, are pushing him in that direction.
Rinaldo's goals for what he has to accomplish on a shift should be to play solid defense and positional game, pursue the puck on the forecheck, and use his hitting game, within the flow of the play. Not see how many hits I can rack up, regardless of how out of the flow I have to go to level those hits, and yap at the opposition, in hopes that they might take a shot at me, so they get a penalty, and my team get's a PP.
SuperSchennBros
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot!
Joined: 09.01.2012

Sep 4 @ 5:14 PM ET
Was everyone here aware that Giroux, Simmonds, Coburn, L. Schenn, LeCavalier, Umberger and Grossman all have no trades or no movement clauses?
2Real
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: IT'S GRITTIN TIME, CA
Joined: 07.14.2007

Sep 4 @ 5:15 PM ET
Was everyone here aware that Giroux, Simmonds, Coburn, L. Schenn, LeCavalier, Umberger and Grossman all have no trades or no movement clauses?
- SuperSchennBros

wow even grossman?
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 5:15 PM ET
There are positive aspects to his game, sure. I just prefer a guy that can do more. Even if it's a guy like Shelley, he wasn't a good player, but he was also not prone to mistakes and running around & being a positionally unsound guy
- Jsaquella


The two things that Rinaldo brings more than Shelley is speed and hitting. Shelley was a bigger guy, but he didn't hit as much, and he's not as fast as Rinaldo. But that's part of the problem. Rinaldo gets so intense and has so much speed that he's going to barrel into someone, but not always cleanly. With Shelley, you could play him for a few minutes and be fairly certain that he wasn't going to do anything brutally bad (usually).

I have no problem with Rinaldo if he can rein himself in. But that remains to be seen.
Jsaquella
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Bringing Hexy Back
Joined: 06.16.2006

Sep 4 @ 5:15 PM ET
Was everyone here aware that Giroux, Simmonds, Coburn, L. Schenn, LeCavalier, Umberger and Grossman all have no trades or no movement clauses?
- SuperSchennBros


Yep, pretty much.

jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 5:16 PM ET
Was everyone here aware that Giroux, Simmonds, Coburn, L. Schenn, LeCavalier, Umberger and Grossman all have no trades or no movement clauses?
- SuperSchennBros


Yes. Much like Hartnell's.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Sep 4 @ 5:18 PM ET
I think the first idea is that he can become a more disciplined and effective player. I don't see it, but I think they do. If I'm wrong , I'll be happy to admit it, because it would mean good things for the Flyers.

The benefit is, they can bury it without any real cap implications if he doesn't. I'm just not in agreement with the timing, more than anything else.

- Jsaquella


The timing is really so minor and secondary to the real issue, to the point where it's not really even an issue.
Jsaquella
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Bringing Hexy Back
Joined: 06.16.2006

Sep 4 @ 5:18 PM ET
The two things that Rinaldo brings more than Shelley is speed and hitting. Shelley was a bigger guy, but he didn't hit as much, and he's not as fast as Rinaldo. But that's part of the problem. Rinaldo gets so intense and has so much speed that he's going to barrel into someone, but not always cleanly. With Shelley, you could play him for a few minutes and be fairly certain that he wasn't going to do anything brutally bad (usually).

I have no problem with Rinaldo if he can rein himself in. But that remains to be seen.

- jmatchett383


I don't have an issue if he can do two things:

1. Be a disciplined guy within the confines of the system. No running around and blowing positioning to make a hit, no stupidly reckless plays overpursuing the puck and leaving his spot open.

2. Getting his Penalties taken/penalties drawn ratio a lot closer to where it was during the lockout season than his other two seasons.

As far as Shelley, that's my point. He lacked the speed and knew his job and did it to the best of his limited ability. Rinaldo embraces his speed and gets carried away with it, making him a positionally unsound player.
SuperSchennBros
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot!
Joined: 09.01.2012

Sep 4 @ 5:19 PM ET
I think really the point is that yea, drawing penalties and agitating the other team can help a team. But if that is really all you're offering to the team, then I don't know how much value you have. I think Rinaldo needs to progress to where he is helping the team in other ways. Which is why I've repeatedly made the statement that I want Rinaldo to be a hockey player first, and an agitator second. Well for the most part he has been an agitator first. I think that has to change if he's going to stay with the team. And I have to believe and hope that the coaches, especially Lapperiere, are pushing him in that direction.
Rinaldo's goals for what he has to accomplish on a shift should be to play solid defense and positional game, pursue the puck on the forecheck, and use his hitting game, within the flow of the play. Not see how many hits I can rack up, regardless of how out of the flow I have to go to level those hits, and yap at the opposition, in hopes that they might take a shot at me, so they get a penalty, and my team get's a PP.

- MJL

Along with his skating, I do like his ability to forecheck.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 5:21 PM ET
I don't have an issue if he can do two things:

1. Be a disciplined guy within the confines of the system. No running around and blowing positioning to make a hit, no stupidly reckless plays overpursuing the puck and leaving his spot open.

2. Getting his Penalties taken/penalties drawn ratio a lot closer to where it was during the lockout season than his other two seasons.

As far as Shelley, that's my point. He lacked the speed and knew his job and did it to the best of his limited ability. Rinaldo embraces his speed and gets carried away with it, making him a positionally unsound player.

- Jsaquella


Absolutely. I do believe those things can be improved upon (to a degree). We just have yet to see him do those things. But yes, basically you're saying become a responsible player. I would agree with that.
SuperSchennBros
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot!
Joined: 09.01.2012

Sep 4 @ 5:23 PM ET
Yep, pretty much.
- Jsaquella

I had no idea L. Schenn and Grossman had one and I'm not sure how I feel about trading for Umberger's deal that was set to be bought out that is also comes with a no trade.
SuperSchennBros
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot!
Joined: 09.01.2012

Sep 4 @ 5:24 PM ET
Yes. Much like Hartnell's.
- jmatchett383

??
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Sep 4 @ 5:24 PM ET
??
- SuperSchennBros


1. Yes, most people were aware of it (from what I've read)

2. Their NMC's are similar to the ones that Hartnell had, unless I'm mistaken.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Sep 4 @ 5:25 PM ET
The thing with Rinaldo is, if it wasn't for his hitting game and agitating style of play, he likely wouldn't be in the NHL. That was his ticket to getting noticed. Well he has a contract, so now he has to decide how long he's going to stay in the NHL. He has some raw physical skills. He needs to mature and keep his emotions more in check. And focus on other areas of his game. It's ingrained in him to go out and play like a bowling ball, without a lot of thought behind it. And to react emotionally, instead of with calculated poise. I hope that's how he's thinking, and how he's being pushed, because that's how he can become more valuable to the team. I can only assume that the organization thinks he has it in him.
Jsaquella
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Bringing Hexy Back
Joined: 06.16.2006

Sep 4 @ 5:26 PM ET
Absolutely. I do believe those things can be improved upon (to a degree). We just have yet to see him do those things. But yes, basically you're saying become a responsible player. I would agree with that.
- jmatchett383


That's all. Get to the point where I'm not expecting the player to do something stupid that hurts the team, and where I'm not cringing when he's out late in a close game and I'll be a lot more tolerant when he has a moment of recklessness.

That's why I have an issue with the timing of the deal. He hasn't shown he can do that, yet the team is going out before his current deal is up and saying we think you're a part of the future based on what you've done so far...what he's done so far, does not impress me in the least or give me hope that he can change his ways for a sustained period.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Sep 4 @ 5:27 PM ET
I had no idea L. Schenn and Grossman had one and I'm not sure how I feel about trading for Umberger's deal that was set to be bought out that is also comes with a no trade.
- SuperSchennBros


Hartnell had a NMC, not a NTC. He was traded.
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