Despite signing a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets just over a month ago, Zac Rinaldo is not invited to their training camp. When speaking with the media today, Blue Jackets president John Davidson explained that Rinaldo has chosen not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and because of that, will appear at the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters training camp instead. Greg Wyshynski of ESPN tweeted the full quote:
Forward Zac Rinaldo, who we signed to a two-way contract this summer, is not vaccinated and because of that – and that’s his decision – the plan is to start him in the American Hockey League and he will not be coming to our training camp.
Rinaldo, 31, has played 374 games in the NHL but is known much more for his skill with his fists than the puck. The veteran forward has just 42 career points but has racked up 758 penalty minutes. The likelihood of him securing a full-time role on the Blue Jackets was already very slim, but appears to be non-existent now as the league’s strict policies make it difficult to carry a player who has refused the vaccine. Recently, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly projected that only 10-15 players on NHL rosters will be unvaccinated by the start of the season. The Blue Jackets announced that the other 67 players invited to NHL training camp are vaccinated.
Still, it is likely that Rinaldo and his agents already knew that he would be playing in the AHL for a good portion of the year since they negotiated a hefty $300K minor league guarantee. Despite his $275K AHL salary, he’ll receive the full $300K even if he fails to play a single game for Columbus.
Additionally, The Columbus Dispatch’s Brian Hedger reports that the NHLPA will review the situation, considering Rinaldo has not officially been sent to AHL Cleveland as of yet.
Rinaldo played four games last season for the Calgary Flames, scoring zero points.
I get not wanting him around but why punish the Cleveland Monsters? He really isn’t a good enough player for the team to want to deal with the leagues covid stipulations so why not just cut him?
Per the CBA, they are currently unable to mandate vaccines. Per the CBA, they are absolutely able to banish him.
He can enjoy freedom in Cleveland.
Yea I get that, I’m saying from CBJ’s perspective why not cut him.
Just chiming in here, you can’t cut players in the NHL. Contracts are guaranteed, unless he does something to breach his contract, fails to report, fails a medical for specific reasons, or agrees to terminate it. All of those things would mean Rinaldo giving up his $300K guarantee.
Now, it is not clear at all how his vaccination status will be handled by the Monsters, especially since they are scheduled to travel to Belleville and Toronto early in the season. He may end up just sitting on the sideline for much of this season, collecting a paycheck.
He needs 26 games for pension.
That alone-get the jab. Pissing away your pension at 31 y/o. That’s some bad advice.
I don’t care about your stance. And you don’t know mine.
26 games.
Man what a rough spot to be in. That close. How does the nhlpa pensions work? Do all players receive the same amount after a certain number of games?
I would hazard to guess that Zac doesn’t really care what Dave Frost’s opinion of his vax stance is. Conscience sometimes overrides money interests.
Stupidity often costs people money too
I scenario I would like to see is Ducey telling Zac Rinaldo that he’s stupid, especially considering that Zac has already made more money than you will ever see.
Man I hate the “you’re stupid for refusing the vaccine narrative”. Truly getting old. No facts, no intelligent discussion, just pure attempt at character defilement. If Zac is stupid could you please elaborate on why @ducey? Oh and not because he’s forfeiting some salary. I’d like the research of the long term effects of this vaccine, a full report of all the side effects that are happening short term and the efficacy of the vax vs. the danger to healthy 30-40 year old males. Oh but see then you have to engage in a discussion in which both sides may have valid points and we can’t let that get out that someone who disagrees with you also have valid reasons for doing so. So you’ll just call me a moron and an anti-vaxxer even though I do believe most vaccines are effective and safe. Just not untested, somewhat experimental ones being imposed, not just offered, on everyone. No I don’t think they cause autism or are brainwashing people or whatever you think the tinfoil hat-wearers think. Like let’s try and have a discussion without character defamation.
moron antivaxxer
The article should read “ the league’s strict policies make it difficult to carry a player ‘like Zach Ronaldo’”. If this were a high profile player it would be kept quiet and they would manage it, and try to not let it out in the media. It’s going to be pretty obvious which players aren’t vaxxed when they are “injured” for every Canadian road trip.
This NHL policy makes no sense. Im fairly certain i got covid a couple times. Once in the beginning and once a couple weeks back. Both times was just like a regular cold. It went away and thats that. I would be physically able to play hockey still pushing and keeping pace.
Add in how the vaccine does nothing more than stave off symptoms and the likelyhood of a vaccinated and unvaccinnated player getting covid are the same. They only hafta be around someone with covid.
I get how if a player got covid and the symptoms were so severe you hadta miss games that they would forfeit the paycheck, it was avoidable with the vax. I dont get why that would force you tuh fire staff and not want players on the roster. The vax doesnt make you not get covid so being around an unvaxed doesnt raise the chances of you getting it. It just means the one could get sick and die while the other might not even show symptoms. Its 100% his choice and nobody should get punished for deciding to risk sickness and death over getting injecting themselves.
Im not even afraid of the vax having bad stuff or what the side effects could be. I just would rather allow my body to strengthen itself naturally. Did the same thing with the flu. My bones would be on fire, super sick. But rode it out in bed no meda and each year it got less till it stopped
If a player, or anyone for that matter, has natural immunity from having recovered from covid, that immunity is stronger and longer lasting than that from being vaxxed. If that’s the case with Rinaldo, then this should be a non issue.
I still shocked teams keep signing him regardless of Covid . The limited skills he brings have disappeared from Nhl. His great skill was being a cheapshot guy.