James Tanner: Coyotes Should Cut Rinaldo (and Fire their Coach)

He is a total POS. Someone just needs to crush him and end his "career". League won't do anything worth while.

I couldn't agree more. I have been a long time Coyote fan and was frustrated by the line ups Tippett woudl put out game to game. But Tocchet is so much worse. I do not get his fascination with Rinaldo. All Rinaldo does is to try and hit people. He takes himself out of plays more than the player he is trying to hit. And we play him over Duclair and Perlini? Despite being scratched in 10+ games this year Duclair is fifth on the team in goals. I don't care if he doesn't finish checks. eh scores goals. Yuo don;t get points for finishing checks, you need to score.

Is it really a sucker punch if the guy flies at him after a hit? I mean, I would rather throw the first punch than just let someone hit me with a running start.

Also, Dylan Strome is a bust at the NHL level. I realize it sucks but I think it’s true.

I couldn't agree more. I have been a long time Coyote fan and was frustrated by the line ups Tippett woudl put out game to game. But Tocchet is so much worse. I do not get his fascination with Rinaldo. All Rinaldo does is to try and hit people. He takes himself out of plays more than the player he is trying to hit. And we play him over Duclair and Perlini? Despite being scratched in 10+ games this year Duclair is fifth on the team in goals. I don't care if he doesn't finish checks. eh scores goals. Yuo don;t get points for finishing checks, you need to score.
- boatescnk

rinaldo on the 3rd line is a travesty. at very best, he's a 4th line player.

bright side of the pending suspension is it saves tochett from himself.

Is it really a sucker punch if the guy flies at him after a hit? I mean, I would rather throw the first punch than just let someone hit me with a running start.

Also, Dylan Strome is a bust at the NHL level. I realize it sucks but I think it’s true.
- The_Big_Heen

girad was skating through, brushed rinaldo and had his head up the ice looking at the play.

with his history, i think he gets +10 games for attacking a defenseless player.

Not a Rinaldo fan and yah I do think he is useless but he did nothing wrong here. Hit on Mackinnon was clean and Girard charged at him and his reaction was to punch him. Girard wanted to get involved and stand up for his teammate which is good but if you are going to do that. Be prepared to fight. It’s true we don’t need enforcers in the NHL anymore but Rinaldo did nothing wrong here. I’m guessing Tochett is trying to use Rinaldo’s energy and passion. Because that is the old school way of doing this. Tochett was a similar player. Difference is the Tochett had talent too and could score. I think it’s an example of Tochett being too old school and not knowing how to work with Millenial players like Duclair and Strome. I’m a bruins fan and love Neely but he’s the same way. Too old school for today’s game. That’s why they traded Seguin and Hamilton when they shouldn’t have. Luckily now though the Bruins have a coach in Cassidy that can relate to millennial players. Yotes need some fresh blood in the front office and on the bench. Tochett is a great guy but he would have been a better coach in the 80s and 90s. Not in today’s NHL.

Being at the game Saturday, I can see why Rinaldo punched the guy. He was skating at him, and as stated, he is a fighter who probably figured that the kid was coming to get the pound of flesh. It looks horrible looking at it on film, but being there live in the split second Rinaldo had to react, I can see it. Now, he did get his as Johnson absolutely smoked him, but that leads to another point.

He shouldn't even be playing on this team. Luke Schenn can be the muscle if needed and Zac is taking time away from DuClair, Merkeley, Perlini etc. This is was is most frustrating to me a season ticket holder. I get it's a rebuild, well then let the young guys play. But to keep rolling out Rinaldo, Cousins, Reider, Martinook etc is a determent to letting the young guys play and see what they can do. I see a lot of selling my remaining tickets for this year until they actually get rid of the useless 3rd and 4th liners and let the young ins start playing significant minutes...

I thought the Coyotes would have been in the playoff picture come february. I didnt think they would make it but with the additions on D and the young forwards getting an extra year I figured theyd be fighting for a spot until near the end.

Wow was I ever wrong. This has to be a coaching issue, I dont see what else it could be.

James Tanner: Coyotes Should Cut Rinaldo (and Fire their Coach)
- James_Tanner

"Fire Dave Tippett please." -Jamers Tanner

"Fire Rick Tocchet please." -James Tanner

Maybe, just maybe the Yotes players stink?

Is it really a sucker punch if the guy flies at him after a hit? I mean, I would rather throw the first punch than just let someone hit me with a running start.

Also, Dylan Strome is a bust at the NHL level. I realize it sucks but I think it’s true.
- The_Big_Heen

Calling a 20 year old who is on pace to win the AHL scoring title a bust after 18 career NHL games (90% of which he skated for 11 minutes with a checker like Richardson) is perhaps the most ridiculous thing I have heard said on this board in four years of writing here.

Its strange Tocchet is so bad. Some of those decisions are just asinine.

There are still too many coaches hanging on to that old school way of thinking, favouring veteran players far too much. League is changing more and more to a young persons game.

Can't stand Rinaldo and he is probably in the top 3 of useless forwards in the NHL, but if you think the hit on MacKinnon was dirty, you need to stop watching hockey as much as Rinaldo needs to be out of the NHL.

"Fire Dave Tippett please." -Jamers Tanner

"Fire Rick Tocchet please." -James Tanner

Maybe, just maybe the Yotes players stink?
- tomburton99

There were a bevy of good reasons to fire Tippett. They got his replacement wrong. It happens. Yeah, the team has other issues but the coaching this year has been terrible. They hired a guy whose been out of the league for nearly a generation, and it shows.

Rinaldo:

History, being a useless POS, and a player who continously looks to injure others. All of this stuff aside, he threw a punch at a player who still had his gloves on and at worst brushed by him.

Punches are only thrown when both have their gloves off.

Can't stand Rinaldo and he is probably in the top 3 of useless forwards in the NHL, but if you think the hit on MacKinnon was dirty, you need to stop watching hockey as much as Rinaldo needs to be out of the NHL.
- mdw7413

He hit a guy who didn't have the puck, and he got his leg up. It's not a clean hit. Yeah, I've seen worse, and it depends on which angle you see it on as to how bad it looks, but it's still not a clean hit.

He hit a guy who didn't have the puck, and he got his leg up. It's not a clean hit. Yeah, I've seen worse, and it depends on which angle you see it on as to how bad it looks, but it's still not a clean hit.
- James_Tanner

You better watch that again, Tanner. It wasn't late and it wasn't dirty!

"Fire Dave Tippett please." -Jamers Tanner

"Fire Rick Tocchet please." -James Tanner

Maybe, just maybe the Yotes players stink?
- tomburton99

they have 2 4th lines, 1 3rd line and 1 2nd line.

pretty much the problem imo.

You better watch that again, Tanner. It wasn't late and it wasn't dirty!
- 21peter

I've seen it a hundred times. Mackinnon passed the puck before he got hit.

they have 2 4th lines, 1 3rd line and 1 2nd line.

pretty much the problem imo.
- Tumbleweed

With another second line on the bench or in the AHL.

they have 2 4th lines, 1 3rd line and 1 2nd line.

pretty much the problem imo.
- Tumbleweed

Domi - Steppan - Duclair
Perlini - Strome - Keller
Fischer - Dvorak - Merkley
Martinook - Richardson - Rieder



There is no reason that can't be a good team. Especially with having (when healthy) one of the NHL's best groups of defensemen.

Reminds me of this wienerhead.

Domi - Steppan - Duclair
Perlini - Strome - Keller
Fischer - Dvorak - Merkley
Martinook - Richardson - Rieder



There is no reason that can't be a good team. Especially with having (when healthy) one of the NHL's best groups of defensemen.
- James_Tanner

except duclair and domi aren't that good and merkley and strome suck - right now.

some young players (keller) figure out the nhl right away. others take more time to develop.

Quote isn't working. I had the Coyotes pegged for playoff contention as well. A big variable was coaching (as a Pens fan I'm glad Tocchet is gone, didn't want him on my yotes though! I wanted Nelson!). But the other really really big thing that has held the Yotes back is injuries. They may be healthy now, but they had a tough time icing a decent lineup to start the year and Tocchet has made it all so much worse

I've seen it a hundred times. Mackinnon passed the puck before he got hit.
- James_Tanner

which is legal.