BOSTON – Zac Rinaldo was placed on waivers Sunday by the Bruins, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie. The hard-hitting Rinaldo joined Alex Stalock (TOR), Reto Berra (COL), Rene Bourque (CBJ), Mike Brown (SJ), Dave Warsofsky (PIT), Adam Cracknell (VAN) and Adam Pardy (WIN) on waivers on Sunday, and that was joined up with the news that Talbot had cleared waivers for a third time this season.
The 25-year-old Rinaldo has a goal and three points along with a minus-6 in 51 games this season, and has been a decent physical presence for the Bruins on the fourth line while bringing little else to the table. With Tyler Randell on a conditioning assignment and Talbot on waivers, the Rinaldo move would seem to be another transaction from the Bruins front office to clear a roster spot for whatever maneuvering Don Sweeney has planned for the next 24 hours.
Talbot could be available to the Bruins for Sunday night’s game against Tampa Bay, and was spotted in the B’s dressing room after morning skate, after clearing through waivers, so there’s no danger of Boston’s being stuck with only 11 forwards at puck drop.
Sweeney and the Bruins infamously spent a third round pick to acquire Rinaldo last summer with the idea they were bringing some of the toughness and attitude back to the Black and Gold. But that swagger and “hard to play against” mentality hasn’t always been there for the Bruins this season, and Rinaldo was erratic with it despite leading the B’s with 81 penalty minutes this season.