Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Holding Serve, Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Holding Serve, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

The problem with Rinaldo is, as soon as you give the guy more rope, he hangs himself.

He said last night, something along the lines of "This always happens to me. When things are going good something like this happens"

They happen because he's not able to control himself and he starts making dumb plays.

I'm sick of Rinaldo. I don't want players like him on this team.

Hey if Matt Cooke can clean up his game then anything is possible.

Hey if Matt Cooke can clean up his game then anything is possible.
- jaumiller

Yeah but see Rinaldo isn't a cheap shot artist, last night's hit notwithstanding

Hey if Matt Cooke can clean up his game then anything is possible.
- jaumiller

Not to defend Rinaldo, but his history isn't as involved as Cooke's. He's been fined once and suspended once, both of which occurred more than two years ago. The hit on Ruhwedel was dirty, no question about it.

But Rinaldo has a reputation that exceeds his actions. I hope the NHL does slam him hard, but at the same time he's had far fewer incidents than a guy like James Neal.

I'm sick of Rinaldo. I don't want players like him on this team.
- Feanor

Lets lighten up a bit. Rinaldo has done more good for this team than he has done bad. He draws many penalties and brings an energy to this team that many can't. Yes last night he was reckless but for the most part he has had a key part in the success this team has had this year. He is not a dirty player. It was a bad hit but he didn't intentionally try to hurt anyone. He deserves to be suspended but he is an important part of this team.

Not to defend Rinaldo, but his history isn't as involved as Cooke's. He's been fined once and suspended once, both of which occurred more than two years ago. The hit on Ruhwedel was dirty, no question about it.

But Rinaldo has a reputation that exceeds his actions. I hope the NHL does slam him hard, but at the same time he's had far fewer incidents than a guy like James Neal.
- Jsaquella

True, rinaldo is younger than both players. A suspension might be a good wake up call for him.

The problem with Rinaldo is, as soon as you give the guy more rope, he hangs himself.

He said last night, something along the lines of "This always happens to me. When things are going good something like this happens"

They happen because he's not able to control himself and he starts making dumb plays.
- Jsaquella

The dumbest part was the timing of the hit. They were up 4-0 in the third. There is no need to try and lay someone out. He needs to better understand time and place.

True, rinaldo is younger than both players. A suspension might be a good wake up call for him.
- jaumiller

I'd like it to serve as one. He could be an effective player. But he can't deliver moronic and dangerous hits like the one he made last night. I see zero difference between that and the elbow that Douglas Murray threw at Mike Kostka last week.

Lets lighten up a bit. Rinaldo has done more good for this team than he has done bad. He draws many penalties and brings an energy to this team that many can't. Yes last night he was reckless but for the most part he has had a key part in the success this team has had this year. He is not a dirty player. It was a bad hit but he didn't intentionally try to hurt anyone. He deserves to be suspended but he is an important part of this team.
- Daveflyers36

He's had a good stretch recently but he was atrocious at the start of the season.

I'd like it to serve as one. He could be an effective player. But he can't deliver moronic and dangerous hits like the one he made last night. I see zero difference between that and the elbow that Douglas Murray threw at Mike Kostka last week.
- Jsaquella

I won't really care how long he's suspended. I think it will be the rest of the regular season. I wish the NHL would come down much harder on these head shots. I wish they'd start giving 10 games

The dumbest part was the timing of the hit. They were up 4-0 in the third. There is no need to try and lay someone out. He needs to better understand time and place.
- PhillySportsGuy

That's a big factor, too.

You're facing a team that's getting rebuilt, playing out the string, game is in hand and it's late and you desperately need the two points.

Now, you open the door. The Sabres got fired up and scored a goal directly on the PP Rinaldo caused. Also, you basically open the door to possible retaliation on one of your guys...what happens if a Sabre gets a clear shot on Giroux or Voracek? The thought is going to be in the back of their mind after Rinaldo's stupidity.

Lets lighten up a bit. Rinaldo has done more good for this team than he has done bad. He draws many penalties and brings an energy to this team that many can't. Yes last night he was reckless but for the most part he has had a key part in the success this team has had this year. He is not a dirty player. It was a bad hit but he didn't intentionally try to hurt anyone. He deserves to be suspended but he is an important part of this team.
- Daveflyers36

If a 4th line agitator is an important part of the team, it's time to fire the GM.

Yes, Rinaldo brings energy and draws penalties. When he stays under control. Last night he wasn't in control, and it wasn't just the hit on Ruhwedel. He took 3 other minors, not a single one that was unearned and not a single one that was to prevent a scoring chance.

That's a big factor, too.

You're facing a team that's getting rebuilt, playing out the string, game is in hand and it's late and you desperately need the two points.

Now, you open the door. The Sabres got fired up and scored a goal directly on the PP Rinaldo caused. Also, you basically open the door to possible retaliation on one of your guys...what happens if a Sabre gets a clear shot on Giroux or Voracek? The thought is going to be in the back of their mind after Rinaldo's stupidity.
- Jsaquella

Even if he lays him out with a clean it, what does that accomplish? I just don't understand his line of thinking there. It seems like he just wanted to add insult to injury or should I say injury to insult

Even if he lays him out with a clean it, what does that accomplish? I just don't understand his line of thinking there. It seems like he just wanted to add insult to injury or should I say injury to insult
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, the guy is shooting. There's no need to make contact with him there.

The replay of the play at normal speed looks no where near as bad as slow motion. Yes it is a hit that rinaldo cannot make, but the defender did put himself in a very precarious spot. I think that will limit the length of the suspension. But rinaldo needs to learn to hold back at certain times, and since he can't he deserves a suspension. But this is going to screw us in the future because the refs are going to call every big hit he makes a penalty now.

Not to defend Rinaldo, but his history isn't as involved as Cooke's. He's been fined once and suspended once, both of which occurred more than two years ago. The hit on Ruhwedel was dirty, no question about it.

But Rinaldo has a reputation that exceeds his actions. I hope the NHL does slam him hard, but at the same time he's had far fewer incidents than a guy like James Neal.
- Jsaquella

Rinaldo should be suspended but the only problem is the nhl has made themselves out to be a joke with the suspensions and non suspensions. James neal is one of the dirtiest players if not the dirtiest play in the nhl with the wrap sheet to show for it. His cross check to the head a couple weeks back should have put him in the stands for a few games. Rinaldo on the other hand has been pretty clean over the last few years and he will get to sit for at least 2 or 3 games (which he should). The league has to become more consistent when it comes to this and stop turning the check for some guys.

If a 4th line agitator is an important part of the team, it's time to fire the GM.

Yes, Rinaldo brings energy and draws penalties. When he stays under control. Last night he wasn't in control, and it wasn't just the hit on Ruhwedel. He took 3 other minors, not a single one that was unearned and not a single one that was to prevent a scoring chance.
- Jsaquella

Lots of people on this board have argued that the Flyers need a better and more effective 4th line. And yes, a 4th line player is an important part of the team. Every player is important. Some are more important then others. But when Rinaldo is on his game, he is effective for the Flyers. Unfortunately, occasionally things like last night happen. Hopefully this is another step in the learning process for Rinaldo.

The replay of the play at normal speed looks no where near as bad as slow motion. Yes it is a hit that rinaldo cannot make, but the defender did put himself in a very precarious spot. I think that will limit the length of the suspension. But rinaldo needs to learn to hold back at certain times, and since he can't he deserves a suspension. But this is going to screw us in the future because the refs are going to call every big hit he makes a penalty now.
- FlyersSteve118

The "defender" had just taken a shot on goal. That's not precarious, it's a follow through on a slap shot.

Rinaldo not only hit him directly in the head, he left his feet and launched himself into the hit. It's as dirty a play as anything James Neal or Matt Cooke have done. there should be zero mitigating circumstances.

Lots of people on this board have argued that the Flyers need a better and more effective 4th line. And yes, a 4th line player is an important part of the team. Every player is important. Some are more important then others. But when Rinaldo is on his game, he is effective for the Flyers. Unfortunately, occasionally things like last night happen. Hopefully this is another step in the learning process for Rinaldo.
- MJL

Rinaldo's inability to avoid stupid penalties like last night is a primary reason that people argue that the Flyers need a better and more effective 4th line.

Not surprised that you have a nit to pick. Glad you got your argument out of the way early, now you can be on stand by for CBA questions, which is really the sole use you have.

Just a quick note, unless things have changed, which I don't think they have. Rinaldo's previous fines and suspensions occurred more then 18 months ago, so he will not be considered a repeat offender.

The "defender" had just taken a shot on goal. That's not precarious, it's a follow through on a slap shot.

Rinaldo not only hit him directly in the head, he left his feet and launched himself into the hit. It's as dirty a play as anything James Neal or Matt Cooke have done. there should be zero mitigating circumstances.
- Jsaquella

They were both racing for the puck and the defenseman reached awkwardly to get the shot off. Yes I know he left his feet, but if the defenseman is in a regular shooting position rinaldo would have made shoulder to shoulder contact.

Edit: I still think this is a dirty hit, but I'm arguing that rinaldo did not intend injury.

Rinaldo's inability to avoid stupid penalties like last night is a primary reason that people argue that the Flyers need a better and more effective 4th line.

Not surprised that you have a nit to pick. Glad you got your argument out of the way early, now you can be on stand by for CBA questions, which is really the sole use you have.
- Jsaquella

I think the main reasons that people argued that they need a better 4th line, is that they want the 4th line to be better offensively. There are only a few who use statistics in a weak argument to say that Rinaldo is not effective as a player.

The problem with Rinaldo is, as soon as you give the guy more rope, he hangs himself.

He said last night, something along the lines of "This always happens to me. When things are going good something like this happens"

They happen because he's not able to control himself and he starts making dumb plays.
- Jsaquella

You can't give him more minutes. It's as simple as that.

The last 10 days or so, I really did think he had turned a corner and understood that if he just worked on his game, the things he does well, he could really be a 10-minute guy every night, maybe even 12-13.

But you can't do that with him. Because he just doesn't think the game well enough.

Buffalo'is playing out the string. They had little interest in playing last night, and little talent to work with. You didn't have to do much last night to win the game.

Zac Rinaldo finds a way, against a team that really had no real thoughts of winning the game, to give them a five-minute major PLUS multiple other power play opportunities with minor penalties -- why? Why, when your own team hasn't been scoring a ton, when you simply need two points against a team that is ready to give them to you...why?

Because he can't think the game well enough. You can't trick yourself into giving him more minutes. Because against a better team last night, Zac Rinaldo could've really effed things up, and 19 other guys don't deserve that.