Zac Rinaldo will be sitting out a couple games, as Brendan Shanahan has unleashed the Shanaban-hammer and knocked the Philadelphia Flyers' forward into next week.
Rinaldo received a 2-game suspension for his high hit on Detroit Red Wings' blueliner Jonathan Ericsson Sunday, a behind-the-net check that, while not to the head, featured Rinaldo's best vertical jump since the NHL draft combine. Here's Shanahan with what happens when you launch yourself a good half-foot off the ice while making a hit:
For the clicking impaired, here's your money quote:
"Although Ericsson should have been more aware and prepared to face an oncoming check after reversing the puck, that still doesn't allow Rinaldo to launch himself to deliver such a high hit. By doing so, Rinaldo turned what might have been a hard, legal bodycheck into an illegal charge."
In short: "HEY. DON'T JUMP."
I especially like the part of the video where they freeze-frame Rinaldo and Ericsson at the same height and draw a big red line, while Shanahan explains that Rinaldo is 5 inches shorter.
But it wasn't just Rinaldo's impression of the 10 lords-a-leaping that got him in trouble. It was also the fact that the incident marks the second time in two weeks that he's been docked five large for his recklessness.
Rinaldo's suspension causes him to forfeit $5,885.88 to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund, pretty close to the amount he lost last week in twin fines for a late hit and a slewfoot versus the New Jersey Devils. As we've seen with recent suspensions to Daniel Carcillo and Raffi Torres, nothing annoys Shanahan quite like guys that fail to get the message.
Hopefully, Rinaldo will this time, especially when he realizes his budget can't handle $5000 a week in disciplinary fees. If he does, he'll have nothing by the season's end. Of course, considering nearly every minute he plays is offset by a minute of discipline -- Rinaldo has 285 minutes on the ice versus 276 minutes in the penalty box or on suspension, according to Eric of Broad Street Hockey -- that might be appropriate.