Prospect Rinaldo using preseason to grow

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His hockey coach in Mississauga once called him fearless.

At least one member of the Flyers refers to him as a ticking time bomb.

Neither of which would surprise you, given the kind of game Flyers prospect Zac Rinaldo plays.

Or why hes tried to refine his game so people dont lump him into the Jesse Boulerice category.

I learned from my own mistakes, said Rinaldo, who is making a serious bid to earn a Flyers roster spot.

Rinaldo played 7:24 in Monday nights 5-3 exhibition win over the Rangers at Wells Fargo Center.

I think, over the years, the OHL and the first year in the AHL, I learned my lesson the hard way, he said. People in the organization showed me video and said, This is whats wrong, this is whats right.

I only need to be shown once. I know whats wrong and whats right. I learned my lesson.

The wrong: things like 191 penalty minutes his first year in the OHL. Or a whopping 331 minutes last year as a Phantom vs. just nine points in 60 games.

What the Flyers have tried to show Rinaldo is that there can be so much more to his game if he loses the lunkhead mentality and employs some of the skill he has. Even Dan Carcillo had an offensive side to him. Rinaldo might offer more.

Which is why when the fiery Italian scored a goal for the Flyers in Toronto last week, coach Peter Laviolette said it was no accident. The coaching staff had been pushing Rinaldo to use his talents for something other than just agitating on the ice.

Rinaldo went flying up the left wing, took a nifty pass from Jakub Voracek, then went forehandbackhand on Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer to score.

We tried to tell Zac to play some hockey, Laviolette said. Literally, we told him to go down the wing and score a goal. Cycle the puck like we do in practice. Play good defense, block some shots.

He did all of that along with bringing a physical element to his game. He was in control. It was a good showing by him.

And heres the kicker. The 21-year-old says he knows he could score more often if he put his mind to it.

I got that move, Rinaldo insisted when it was suggested he surprised Reimer. Its always there, but I am never put in position to use them. Tuesday, I got put into position and I ran with it.

I would have liked to get a few more hits out there. My goal was a presence and I tried to work on more than one dimension. I want to show everybody Im not just a guy who runs around and hits everybody. I can put the puck in the net.

He said he needs to adapt to the NHL rules to be a better player.

Thats the best way Rinaldo can make this team. He needs to show more than just his ferocity, which was on display Monday night against the Rangers. Rinaldo cleaned up on Rangers forward Dale Weise early in the first period.

Rinaldo loves to fight, but the bottom line is at 5-11, 169 pounds, hes not a heavyweight in Jody Shelley or Tommy Sestitos category. He cantand won'treplace a Shelley.

Given that Sestito probably earned a suspension Monday night for his hit from behind on the Rangers Andre Deveaux, the Flyers may have no choice but to keep Rinaldo on the roster at seasons start. He is the clubs only legit fighter, even though hes not in the heavyweight division.

If I have to do it, Im not scared, Rinaldo said. But Im not going to look to go out and fight the heavyweights. Not looking to fight every game. But if it comes up, its part of hockey.

Yes, Matt Walker can fight but he would be a seventh defenseman if he makes the team.

Still, Rinaldo could find a spot by pushing someone else out the door or perhaps as a 13th forward. The Flyers are so deep at forward, the scouting staff is almost dizzy with happiness.

Rinaldo spent the entire off-season training in the area. It shows. Hes leaner, lost the puffiness in the face, dropped some weight, too.

The main thing was to stay in shape, Rinaldo said. Come back and be in the best shape that you have been in. I did a really good job of that over the summer. I lived in Philly all summer. I trained with Ian Laperriere. He was a huge help with my off-ice testing and fitness. I feel great. Im in shape.

Rinaldo went down from 208 pounds to between 185-190I fluctuate, he saidand lost some body fat.

My body fat last year wasnt very cool, Rinaldo said. He was well over 13 percent and is now done to 12 percent.

Laviolette played him in two playoff games against Boston last spring. Even though his ice time wasnt enough to freeze a snow cone, Laviolette liked what he saw.

It never panned out because in both those games we went down 3-0 at the 15-minute mark of the first period, Laviolette said. There went the game plan and use of him. We needed to score four goals and I had to double shift guys who could put the puck in the back of the net.

He had a year where he grew as a player. He stayed here this summer. He made a commitment. He worked really hard. He is in terrific shape. I like his physical presence.

The six minutes of total playoff ice time whet Rinaldos desire to play at the NHL level and get out of the minors.

It made me 10 times more hungrier, he said. Coming in now from last years camp, I kind of switched it around in a sense. A different outlook, not only on hockey itself, but my play.

Rinaldo admits he often went looking for trouble in the past. Although he likes to fight, he said he discovered that if he exercised some patience, the fights would come to him anyway.

I dont pinpoint any particular thing, Rinaldo said. I want to go in and play all-around hockey. I want to hit, I want to shoot, I want to fight, I want to score. I sometimes find when I dont go out looking for it, it finds me even more.

Rinaldo went looking for it early in the first period against the Leafs in Toronto and actually goaded veteran Phil Kessel into taking a dumb roughing call. Thats what the Flyers would like to see from him. Drawing penalties, not taking them.

It might surprise you, but off the ice, Rinaldo is laid back.

On the ice, for sure, Im crazy, he said. Off the ice, Im completely different. Its a 50-50 lights on and lights off switch. Im a normal, regular guy. Im not wild or crazy off the ice. Im humble.

His idea of a good time? Not at the bar, but lounging around at home with some friends.

And believe it or not, Rinaldo is one of the few younger players who wasnt into Entourage.

No hobbies, no TV show, no Entourage, nothing, Rinaldo said.

Just a quiet, shy guy, eh?

Schenn Injured: Brayden Schenn incurred an upper body injury late in the game.

General manager Paul Holmgren said he did not think it was serious and that Schenn would be re-evaluated on Tuesday. He also said that Schenn was questionable for Thursday.

E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.

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