I am trying to keep in perspective that Schultz is a veteran and it's still preseason -- I wouldn't be at all concerned right now if Schultz had decent seasons in either of the last two years -- but I must admit that he has really struggled in his appearances thus far.

I'm not sure exactly what has happened to him. In the past, I always regarded Schultz as a reliable defensive defenseman with good wheels but he has looked indecisive at best.
- bmeltzer

My take on Schultz is he's a veteran guy who can fill in a pinch. The Flyers don't want a young kid sitting in the press box having their growth stunted.

I think if the Flyers were to suffer a long term injury on defense, one of the kids would get the call, and Schultz would remain the 7th guy.

That's really my issue. I'm long winded about, but oh well.

They expect more out of Rinaldo because he has energy and passion, but a skill guy like Akeson or Gustafsson needs to toil in the AHL or deal with a week in the press box after a bad game or mistake, yet Rinaldo's undisciplined play is written off as "passion"

Case in point, after jumping Dallas' Antoine Roussel and putting the Flyers short handed for 7 minutes, Rinaldo not only played the next game, he played over 10 minutes, and played 12+ in the next.

Meanwhile Gustafsson has a bad game and he's exiled. I find that stuff infuriating.
- Jsaquella

Mystery solved: he's Ed Snider's secret illegitimate son.

My take on Schultz is he's a veteran guy who can fill in a pinch. The Flyers don't want a young kid sitting in the press box having their growth stunted.

I think if the Flyers were to suffer a long term injury on defense, one of the kids would get the call, and Schultz would remain the 7th guy.
- PLindbergh31

I think that would be the case, but I've watched every pre-season game but last night's and Schultz has looked terrible. He swings between looking lost, to simply being out of gas.

I worry if he has to dress in a key game we get a Hal Gill vs the Rangers kind of event

Mystery solved: he's Ed Snider's secret illegitimate son.
- Tomahawk

Thanks for ruining my oatmeal

Do you think there is a legit shot that Manning beats him out for the 7th spot? I believe that if they waive Schultz and he clears and is demoted, they would only be on the hook for 350K of his cap hit, which when combined with Manning, is still less than Schultz's full 1.250 million.
- BiggE

Probably not for opening night but it could happen during the season if Schultz does not pick up his level of play.

That's really my issue. I'm long winded about, but oh well.

They expect more out of Rinaldo because he has energy and passion, but a skill guy like Akeson or Gustafsson needs to toil in the AHL or deal with a week in the press box after a bad game or mistake, yet Rinaldo's undisciplined play is written off as "passion"

Case in point, after jumping Dallas' Antoine Roussel and putting the Flyers short handed for 7 minutes, Rinaldo not only played the next game, he played over 10 minutes, and played 12+ in the next.

Meanwhile Gustafsson has a bad game and he's exiled. I find that stuff infuriating.
- Jsaquella

Agree 100%.
All fringe players/prospects should be held to the same standard when it comes to on ice performance. Obviously if Giroux or Voracek make a bonehead play, you aren't going to scratch them the next night, but guys like Rinaldo, Akeson and Jones should be held to a tougher standard as they are, for the most part, easily replaceable in the lineup.

Bruins re-sign Krug & Smith. Each get 1 year, $1.4mm

Agree 100%.
All fringe players/prospects should be held to the same standard when it comes to on ice performance. Obviously if Giroux or Voracek make a bonehead play, you aren't going to scratch them the next night, but guys like Rinaldo, Akeson and Jones should be held to a tougher standard as they are, for the most part, easily replaceable in the lineup.
- BiggE

Bruins re-sign Krug & Smith. Each get 1 year, $1.4mm
- Jsaquella

I thought, due to their cap situation, they needed to move someone or at least get Savard on LTIR, before being able to re-sign them.

Edit: Just checked em out on capgeek, they would now be about 3.6 over which they can remedy by placing Savard on LTIR as soon as the option becomes available.

I thought, due to their cap situation, they needed to move someone or at least get Savard on LTIR, before being able to re-sign them.
- BiggE

No, they're within the 10% overage but will have issues getting full value of Savard's LTIR without a trade or risking an effective player on waivers.

No, they're within the 10% overage but will have issues getting full value of Savard's LTIR without a trade or risking an effective player on waivers.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, they don't have to make a move, but if they don't they will barely have enough space to call someone up if a roster player suffers a minor injury.

Bruins re-sign Krug & Smith. Each get 1 year, $1.4mm
- Jsaquella

Meh... $1.6M left for 2 bottom-6 forwards before they even tap into Savard's LTIR... CHIARELLI

edit: I suck at using capgeek, lol.

Probably not for opening night but it could happen during the season if Schultz does not pick up his level of play.
- bmeltzer

Has Schultz had any serious injuries and/or concussions over the last couple of seasons? He almost looks like he just doesn't want to be out there.

Yeah, they don't have to make a move, but if they don't they will barely have enough space to call someone up if a roster player suffers a minor injury.
- BiggE

After these deals they're roughly $3.6mm over, Savard's highest possible LTIR exemption is $4,027,143. They would need to add less cash than the minimum salary to max it out, and then can juggle things like the Flyers will. The trouble is the Flyers have guys like Timonen who can count against Pronger's value and then be LTIR'd themselves to get wiggle room. Ryan White being out until January helps a bit, too.

After these deals they're roughly $3.6mm over, Savard's highest possible LTIR exemption is $4,027,143. They would need to add less cash than the minimum salary to max it out, and then can juggle things like the Flyers will. The trouble is the Flyers have guys like Timonen who can count against Pronger's value and then be LTIR'd themselves to get wiggle room. Ryan White being out until January helps a bit, too.
- Jsaquella

Hopefully things will start easing up for the Flyers next year. Timonen will be off the books and I think that someone struggling to reach the cap floor will be very interested in acquiring the last 2 years of Pronger's deal.

Has Schultz had any serious injuries and/or concussions over the last couple of seasons? He almost looks like he just doesn't want to be out there.
- BiggE

Missed time in 2010 & 2011 with concussions & PCS

Meh... $1.6M left for 2 bottom-6 forwards before they even tap into Savard's LTIR... CHIARELLI
- Tomahawk

They're tapping in now, to an extent. They will likely have to juggle a bit.

Laperriere has been in Rinaldo's corner all along, and wants him to get another chance at a PK-ing role. Berube, who said injury was the main reason the brief experiment with Rinaldo on the PK ended last year, said he thinks the player deserves an opportunity to earn more time and will keep looking at him in that role heading into the season.

The rest is up to Rinaldo to sink or swim once and for all as a PKer. After Saturday's scrimmage in Allentown, Rinaldo said all the right things about paying more attention to detail and cutting down on his own penalties. Yes, he's said that before. However:

1) Whether people like it or not, the coaching staff and organization clearly likes Rinaldo and he's going to be part of the NHL roster. As such, they might as well see if he is capable of further development into more than a single-purpose player.

2) The preseason and September practices are the best time to experiment and see if maybe it can carry over into the season. He won't be a primary PKer, but if he can successfully work his way into spelling some of the main guys, that benefits the team.
- bmeltzer

Exactly. Here's a reasonable and objective response to the situation. We all know that Rinaldo didn't have a great season last year. But that doesn't mean that it's going to carry over to this season. So why not look at it objectively, and see what happens before going off the deep end. I'm not the biggest Rinaldo fan, but if this makes him a better player and more valuable to the team. Then I'm all for it.

Missed time in 2010 & 2011 with concussions & PCS
- Jsaquella

Hmm, when you look at his stats, his play seems to have dropped off significantly since then as well.

I agree on most of this, but it remains that Rinaldo has shown little reason to think he can handle a bigger role over 3 NHL seasons. I understand the staff and team like him, I just wish the opportunities provided Rinaldo extended to other young players.

Despite his penchant for putting the team down a man, and inability to be an effective player, he dressed for 67 games. Even though he ended up playing a smaller role, he still dressed most of the time.

That's really my issue, giving the same opportunity to other young players Rinaldo has gotten. I don't think they Flyers have done that
- Jsaquella

You don't think the Flyers are giving or have given opportunities to young players such as Raffle, and Akeson?

Exactly. Here's a reasonable and objective response to the situation. We all know that Rinaldo didn't have a great season last year. But that doesn't mean that it's going to carry over to this season. So why not look at it objectively, and see what happens before going off the deep end. I'm not the biggest Rinaldo fan, but if this makes him a better player and more valuable to the team. Then I'm all for it.
- MJL

The thing is, other than doing a better a job at drawing penalties during 12-13, I have seen no improvement in any other facet of his game over the last 3 seasons. Maybe he can chip on the pk, but with Couturier, Read, Raffl, Umberger, Giroux, Jones and possibly Bellemare and at some point this season, Laughton, it's really not a need.

You don't think the Flyers are giving or have given opportunities to young players such as Raffle, and Akeson?
- MJL

Raffl sure, though at 25 last year, he's not exactly a kid and he was signed with the intention of making the big club. Akeson though, IMO, has not had the opportunities of a guy like Rinaldo. Heck they were using guys like VDV, McGinn and Newbury last year before they thought to maybe try out their minor league leading scorer and most talented player.

That's really my issue. I'm long winded about, but oh well.

They expect more out of Rinaldo because he has energy and passion, but a skill guy like Akeson or Gustafsson needs to toil in the AHL or deal with a week in the press box after a bad game or mistake, yet Rinaldo's undisciplined play is written off as "passion"

Case in point, after jumping Dallas' Antoine Roussel and putting the Flyers short handed for 7 minutes, Rinaldo not only played the next game, he played over 10 minutes, and played 12+ in the next.

Meanwhile Gustafsson has a bad game and he's exiled. I find that stuff infuriating.
- Jsaquella

I agree that Rinaldo needs to be held accountable more often when he makes a brain dead decision on the ice. An example would be he should have been scratched the next game after that play in Dallas.

The thing is, other than doing a better a job at drawing penalties during 12-13, I have seen no improvement in any other facet of his game over the last 3 seasons. Maybe he can chip on the pk, but with Couturier, Read, Raffl, Umberger, Giroux, Jones and possibly Bellemare and at some point this season, Laughton, it's really not a need.
- BiggE

He's tilting at windmills and missing the point, perhaps intentionally to get into a debate. I've cleared stated my point, you and others have called it valid, and he continues to mis represent it. This is why I ignore his posts. He's spoiling for an argument, and it's pointless to feed him.

He's tilting at windmills and missing the point, perhaps intentionally to get into a debate. I've cleared stated my point, you and others have called it valid, and he continues to mis represent it. This is why I ignore his posts. He's spoiling for an argument, and it's pointless to feed him.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, I hear ya. Oh well, I need to get to work anyway. Catch ya later!