Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry44
Mika Pyorala also played some really smart hockey for us during the season. I don't know why he fell out of Lavy's favour, but I really liked him.
And for Rinaldo, well, he IS trying to play. He has scored the nicest goal of the preseason so far too, so it's not like he has no offensive instincts or scoring talent.
You can't compare him to goons like Shelley et al. He's a Carcillo/Avery type. A small fast disturber. But he has better skills than he gets credit for.
He really needs to stop taking stupid penalties, and it's not accident they are playing him with Talbot, who can teach him to thrive as pest.
If a list of 'prospects' includes stiffs who will never play in the NHL (guys like Marshall and Bourdon who are already behind Lauridsen and Kessel on my depth chart - and probably many others), and ignores actual prospects that will play in the NHL, what friggin' use is it?
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I liked Pyorala, too, actually.
Rinaldo did score a nice goal, but even Jody Shelley has scored a pretty goal or two. Rinaldo's offense is extremely limited.
I agree Rinaldo's style of play is more along the lines of a Carcillo or Avery, but he isn't as skilled as either of them. Avery was at 1.55 PPG (84p in 55gp) his final year of juniors. Carcillo nearly had back to back 30 goal years in juniors (29 and 30) and was just under a point per game both years. Rinaldo's best year in juniors was a 10 goal 30 point performance in 56 games (.54 ppg). Even Shelley and Cote had better career years in juniors. Cote had back to back 50+ point seasons and nearly scored 30 goals one year. Shelley's best was 25 goals and 44 points in 59 games (.75 ppg).
Rinaldo's debut in the AHL is also more in line with Shelley and Cote.
Rinaldo - 9 points in 60 games
Shelley - 5 points in 22 games, then 8 points in 69 games
Cote - 11 points in 61 games
While Avery and Carcillo were clearly better.
Avery - 23 points in 58 games
Carcillo - 24 points in 51 games
Rinaldo is only a prospect in the mind of someone who would draft Klotz in the 3rd round, draft Mathers over Hyka, sign Shelly to a cap hit of $1.1M over 3 years, and waste a roster spot on Cote. He's not a prospect in the real world.