Hamilton’s Rinaldo looking forward to bright future with Flyers

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The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t make the playoffs, and barely got by with a winning record this season, but 24 year-old Hamilton native Zac Rinaldo says the future looks bright.

“I think with a new coach and systems we’re gonna have a big year.”

“Our starts the last 3 years have been disappointing, we’re a good young group of kids. We have nothing but good things ahead of us.”

Rinaldo is a fixture on the Flyers’ fourth line; he had one goal and five assists in 58 games this year. He busted into the league in his rookie year with over 200 penalty minutes, but he’s gradually brought that number down to just over 100, with some encouragement from upper management.

“Ron Hextall told me before the season even started that needs to come down…”

It did, but Rinaldo also faced the third suspension of his NHL career in January, following a hit on Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang. He doesn’t refute the league’s decision, but says things happen very quickly on the ice and it was never his intention to hurt anyone.

“I’ll learn from it, take it with a grain of salt, agree with the league and hopefully it wont happen again. In my eyes it won’t happen again.”

Rinaldo re-signed with the Flyers last year, a two-year extension that will see him in orange and black until the summer of 2017.

“Definitely a brighter future for us next year.”