It sounds like, and I don't follow football- not sure if this is possible, they should have scheduled the Packers as the first game of the year for the Pats, and the Packers win automatically by forefit, no game played, Pats lose the gate.

The Patriots organization cheated-whether it was ball boys alone or if Brady was more hands on, the organization on the whole faces the punishment.
- hillbillydeluxe

Doubt the NFL rolled over on this. It looks bad in them, especially Goodell. Raises hype for sure but it's more negative publicity on the league.

- Codes1087

I'm not saying Brady didn't do it, but it was obvious that they never had clear evidence that Brady was responsible or even aware of it or it would never have gotten to this point. You can't punish a player based on doubt.

Goodell must be furious!! He governs with an iron fist, his way or the highway. Brady is guilty as feck but they can't prove that "beyond a reasonable doubt"…..thus he's a free man.

How about that Donaldson kid, he's good hey

I'm not saying Brady didn't do it, but it was obvious that they never had clear evidence that Brady was responsible or even aware of it or it would never have gotten to this point. You can't punish a player based on doubt.
- Nucker101

He'll be on SNL making fun of it within the year.

They had no hard evidence that he was responsible...
- Nucker101

Best thing I heard was that the punishment was the equivalent of giving someone the death penalty for speeding.

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/...cess-and-failure-1.355108


Some interesting stuff by Yost here…if you like numbers.



"If you’re curious to whether or not this should put any team on notice from last year, the answer is yes. The 2014-2015 Calgary Flames amassed 97-points despite a 44.4 per cent Corsi%. If they regress anywhere near the average variance (-12.5 points), they’re in major jeopardy of missing the post-season."

Goodell must be furious!! He governs with an iron fist, his way or the highway. Brady is guilty as feck but they can't prove that "beyond a reasonable doubt"…..thus he's a free man.

How about that Donaldson kid, he's good hey
- LeftCoaster

The next time the Pats do anything illegal the punishment will be epic, and with Belichick as coach we all know there will be a next time.

i think ranking players by position is better than just compiling a list. the categories (imo) should be centres, wingers, d and goalies.

my top 5 centres are:
crosby
kopitar (hugely underrated imo)
toews
stamkos
tavares

and then we get into how you want to define things. if you're looking at the next several seasons (rather than just next season), i start with players on an upward trajectory:
johanson
seguin

if it's just next season:
getzlaf
sedin
datsyuk

i'm sure i forgot a name or three but the top 5 is where i wanted to start.

i think ranking players by position is better than just compiling a list. the categories (imo) should be centres, wingers, d and goalies.

my top 5 centres are:
crosby
kopitar (hugely underrated imo)
toews
stamkos
tavares

and then we get into how you want to define things. if you're looking at the next several seasons (rather than just next season), i start with players on an upward trajectory:
johanson
seguin

if it's just next season:
getzlaf
sedin
datsyuk

i'm sure i forgot a name or three but the top 5 is where i wanted to start.
- RealityChecker

In that order?

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/how-analytics-forecast-future-success-and-failure-1.355108


Some interesting stuff by Yost here…if you like numbers.



"If you’re curious to whether or not this should put any team on notice from last year, the answer is yes. The 2014-2015 Calgary Flames amassed 97-points despite a 44.4 per cent Corsi%. If they regress anywhere near the average variance (-12.5 points), they’re in major jeopardy of missing the post-season."
- LeftCoaster

Corsi aside do you believe they will regress?

In that order?
- thundachunk

indeed my friend. indeed.

it may not be popular but that's my top 5. crosby is the best player in the world (barring injury). kopitar is a rare combination of skill, size, power, skating and finesse. toews is a great player (obviously) but i think he benefits a lot from having hossa on his line and so i drop him to 3. stamkos is a beast but the players i have in front of him are better 2 way players. tavares is another underrated player (strange considering the hype he's had since he was 13.)

Corsi aside do you believe they will regress?
- thundachunk

In terms of points - yes….but only slightly.

The next time the Pats do anything illegal the punishment will be epic, and with Belichick as coach we all know there will be a next time.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Belichick is brilliant, but he's slimy as (frank)!! The ol' coach used to say, "if you're not cheatin, you're not tryin".

indeed my friend. indeed.

it may not be popular but that's my top 5. crosby is the best player in the world (barring injury). kopitar is a rare combination of skill, size, power, skating and finesse. toews is a great player (obviously) but i think he benefits a lot from having hossa on his line and so i drop him to 3. stamkos is a beast but the players i have in front of him are better 2 way players. tavares is another underrated player (strange considering the hype he's had since he was 13.)
- RealityChecker

I don't have them in that exact order but yes me too. Top centers in the league list.

In terms of points - yes….but only slightly.
- LeftCoaster

They improved in the off season and a healthy Giordano. My money is on them being better.

indeed my friend. indeed.

it may not be popular but that's my top 5. crosby is the best player in the world (barring injury). kopitar is a rare combination of skill, size, power, skating and finesse. toews is a great player (obviously) but i think he benefits a lot from having hossa on his line and so i drop him to 3. stamkos is a beast but the players i have in front of him are better 2 way players. tavares is another underrated player (strange considering the hype he's had since he was 13.)
- RealityChecker

If it's just ranking centers, I have Toews first, Stamkos second, Crosby third (because I'm rating him strictly on what he's done, not what he could do if healthy because otherwise he's clearly the most talented) and Kopitar would be a distant fourth only because he's not quite as offensively talented as Stamkos or Crosby and isn't as clutch as Toews (BTW, Hossa plays on the second line and only plays with Toews on the PP/PK)

If it's just ranking centers, I have Toews first, Stamkos second, Crosby third (because I'm rating him strictly on what he's done, not what he could do if healthy because otherwise he's clearly the most talented) and Kopitar would be a distant fourth only because he's not quite as offensively talented as Stamkos or Crosby and isn't as clutch as Toews (BTW, Hossa plays on the second line and only plays with Toews on the PP/PK)
- DariusKnight

i'm pretty sure that he's toews' regular winger. kane is on the second line with a revolving corps of centres.

http://leftwinglock.com/l...&strength=EV&gametype=ALL

Belichick is brilliant, but he's slimy as (frank)!! The ol' coach used to say, "if you're not cheatin, you're not tryin".
- LeftCoaster

Brady got away with one today, but the NFL shot itself in the foot with the investigation and punishment, now they've got egg on their face and if any of the players suspended by Goddell are smart they'd go to court to have their suspensions overturned and sue the NFL for wages lost due to either being cut or etc. Goodell should have taken the deal to have Brady be gone for one game for misleading the investigation by destroying his cellphone and left it at that, now the BOG will have to fire him in order to save face.

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/how-analytics-forecast-future-success-and-failure-1.355108


Some interesting stuff by Yost here…if you like numbers.



"If you’re curious to whether or not this should put any team on notice from last year, the answer is yes. The 2014-2015 Calgary Flames amassed 97-points despite a 44.4 per cent Corsi%. If they regress anywhere near the average variance (-12.5 points), they’re in major jeopardy of missing the post-season."
- LeftCoaster

I do like numbers, thanks it was an interesting read but not anything that I find surprising.

While I do like Yost's work in general and I do agree that had the Flames roster stayed the same I would be expecting the Flames to regress heavily.

That said they added 3 very good players to their rosters (Hamilton, Frolik, Bennet) who should be able to help their possession significantly.

I think their bigger concern will be goaltending and goal-scoring. I expect both of those team numbers to regress.

I do like numbers, thanks it was an interesting read but not anything that I find surprising.

While I do like Yost's work in general and I do agree that had the Flames roster stayed the same I would be expecting the Flames to regress heavily.

That said they added 3 very good players to their rosters (Hamilton, Frolik, Bennet) who should be able to help their possession significantly.

I think their bigger concern will be goaltending and goal-scoring. I expect both of those team numbers to regress.
- belcherbd

They are going to come out of the gates hot.

Corsi aside do you believe they will regress?
- thundachunk

I would say both yes and no. I expect them to 'normalize', but I also feel that they improved their team overall, so expect them to be in about the same position, point wise, next season.

My top forwards list is ranked by
A)expected impact in this season ( not accounting for previous or future success or injury/suspensions)
B)value to the team in regards to winning, in other words not fantasy ranking

1.Crosby
2.Tavares
3.Ovechkin
4.Datsyuk
5.Toews
6.Kane
7.Malkin
8.Getzlaf
9.Benn
10.Kopitar
11.Stamkos
12.Giroux
13.Pavelski
14.Tarensenko
15.Bergeron
16.Perry
17.Seguin
18.H.Sedin
19.Backstrom
20.T. Johnson

Hon. Mentions.
Johansen,Thornton, Monahan, Pacioretty, Kucherov, Hall.

Deflate Gate thrown out of court. No suspension for Brady
- VANTEL

That's cuz it was a farce...

Brady was innocent all along...

They are going to come out of the gates hot.
- thundachunk

Would it be fair to say they will be on fire to begin the season?

Would it be fair to say they will be on fire to begin the season?
- belcherbd

Dad?