It's been a busy week for Boston Bruins' forward Zac Rinaldo, who was placed on waivers after getting suspended for five games from the NHL on Tuesday. Unclaimed on the NHL waiver wire, Rinaldo joined the AHL's Providence Bruins. He made his first appearance for the AHL Bruins on Friday, where he was promptly ejected for an illegal hit on Bridgeport Sound Tigers' forward Kane Lafranchise.
Rinaldo received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the hit on Lafranchise, which took place in the second period of the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss to the Sound Tigers. Lafranchise left the game after the hit and did not return.
Having been suspended four times in his five-year career, Rinaldo's latest NHL suspension will stretch five games for an illegal hit to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette. Rinaldo was placed on waivers before the NHL trade deadline, meaning that he will serve his suspension if and when he is recalled to the NHL by the Bruins. As a part of his NHL suspension, Rinaldo will forfeit $51,829.25 in salary, money that will be allocated to the NHL's player emergency fund.
In 275 games across parts of five NHL seasons, Rinaldo has amassed 27 points to go along with 655 penalty minutes. The stat line makes it clear what type of player Rinaldo is. He makes his living maintaining a physical presence on the ice, but his suspension history shows has a tendency to cross the line of what is acceptable and what is dangerous.
Rinaldo's longest suspension is an eight-game ban for charging Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman Kris Letang in January 2015. A growing track record makes it increasingly likely that Rinaldo will see an extended suspension if he were to commit another infraction. He will wait and see if there will be further discipline handed down from the AHL for Friday's infraction.
Looking to add toughness, the Bruins acquired Rinaldo from the Philadelphia Flyers in June for a third round pick in the 2017 NHL entry draft, he has three points through 52 games this year. Rinaldo's value as an NHL player is becoming questionable with each infraction, especially with one year remaining at a cap hit of $850,000.
