So I guess we can’t mark any of you guys down for the Fraud Street Run, huh?
- hereticpride

No matter where someone falls on the political spectrum, it’s hard to not find that whole thing (frank)ing hysterical

That's what we all think.

On my first day of classes when I teach frosh, I have students write down the answer to the following question on a slip of paper.

"The median grade in this class will be a B-. Meaning 50% of the class will get either a B- or do better than a B-, and 50% will either get a B- or do worse. Now, what do you believe your grade will be?"

Its invariable: at least 65% of the class chooses a grade for themselves above a B-. (This is impossible, of course).

And the more men there are in the class, the more inflated the grade is.
- PT21

Experiments like this crack me up. But hey, can’t fault people for positive thinking I suppose. If you don’t think you can hack it, then why are you there?

I hated those types of curved mandates in undergrad. Thought they were patently unfair. Learned to love them in law school though.

Pelle was, and is, my all time favorite Flyer. I remember I was at the Eagles game (the one where Mike Quick caught the 99 yard TD pass) when they had the moment of silence for his passing. Truly a sad day for a 14 year old kid. I was at his final game and I blamed Bob Froese for his death (I know, but I was just a kid).
Froses was complaining about playing time and he got the start that game instead of Pelle. I told myself that if Pelle had played instead, he'd have been tired and wouldn't have been out drinking (again, I was only 14). I had the pleasure of actually meeting Pelle as a kid and his autograph is, to this day, still my most treasured autograph. To quote the final line of the Daily News article on that day, "Goodnight, sweet prince."

Yes, it was obvious upon rereading what you meant. You had a little typo there which threw me off ("quite didn't work").

Anyway, I am honored to salute you, sir.

Veterans are dotted throughout my family. My granduncle (WW2), Uncle (Vietnam), my first cousin's husband (Iraq, first Gulf war), another first cousin (National Guard, deployed to Bosnia, Iraq (second war) and Afghanistan), and many other relatives through marriage on my wife's side.

What's your experience, if I may ask and if I am not prying? (If so, cheerfully ignore).
- PT21

Grandfather was navy for 41 years. First a medic in the pacific the went officer. Was an admiral.

Father enlisted as he thought his number was going to be called. He said it wasn’t. Never knew if he was joking or not. He was army.

I am a marine. Enlisted 2000-2004 active. Sgt. 5811 5814.

Experiments like this crack me up. But hey, can’t fault people for positive thinking I suppose. If you don’t think you can hack it, then why are you there?

I hated those types of curved mandates in undergrad. Thought they were patently unfair. Learned to love them in law school though.
- stayinthefnnet

There is another little nasty but related trick I was known to do.

I used to teach a class that fulfilled an analytical reasoning requirement. As such, zillions of people who show up on the first day that had no business taking that class, for they would hate it and find it hard.

I would do what I said earlier. And after pointing out the error in the class responses, I would repeat: now, all of you, I remind you, as I see the class as it is, 50% of you are getting C's!

Everybody would ignore the underlined part above, and concentrate on the next part. And guess what, all the people likely to struggle left.

I did not feel too bad. I was not lying. Thats what it would have been in the then composition. If you truly believe you are going to be in the C range or worse, you should indeed leave if you can.

Then I would teach to the remaining, and the median grade would be an A-.

Grandfather was navy for 41 years. First a medic in the pacific the went officer. Was an admiral.

Father enlisted as he thought his number was going to be called. He said it wasn’t. Never knew if he was joking or not. He was army.

I am a marine. Enlisted 2000-2004 active. Sgt. 5811 5814.
- Peter Richards

Makes mental note to never, ever challenge Peter Richards to a bar brawl.

It could work.

I am personally skeptical that the weaknesses they displayed during the past playoffs will be addressed with the current roster, but those are decent Vegas odds and I am going to plonk some $ on them.

I just really wish they had one guy up and down the roster other than Hart who other teams could legitimately be scared of...
- PT21

The Flyers have...

Hart — The best example of his current value is looking at the 2020 Playoffs. I think he can be a superstar or more depending on the success of the team.

Couturier — 2020 Selke winner needs to stay healthy in the playoffs and have a performance results at least equivalent to his own in 2018. Defense with good offense isn’t sexy but it wins.

Giroux — He needs a role from the coaching staff in which he can succeed. In fairness, this means the Flyers need to avoid injuries that cut into the projected center depth. He also needs to flip his playoff switch back on. It doesn’t have to be the 2017-18 regular season level either. The 2018-19 regular season level converted to playoffs would do it.

Konecny — Well...I hope he doesn’t dwell on this one too long. His all-star level 2019-20 regular season would be the bar to set for himself in future playoffs, but I think he could even find another gear in the event that say...we have a healthy center like Patrick he can gel with.

Provorov — He is trending well and just about to enter his prime. At only 24, I see him becoming as impactful as Heiskanen (at only 21 btw) was for Dallas this past playoffs. Talent has no age.

Outside of the (above) Flyers fab five, they have good support pieces in Hayes, Laughton, Voracek, Elliott, and Braun. The have many young players entering their prime that can be impactful and younger players with high ceilings. Their depth is a weapon. The balance on defense is a question mark but the pieces are there.

There is another little nasty but related trick I was known to do.

I used to teach a class that fulfilled an analytical reasoning requirement. As such, zillions of people who show up on the first day that had no business taking that class, for they would hate it and find it hard.

I would do what I said earlier. And after pointing out the error in the class responses, I would repeat: now, all of you, I remind you, as I see the class as it is, 50% of you are getting C's!

Everybody would ignore the underlined part above, and concentrate on the next part. And guess what, all the people likely to struggle left.

I did not feel too bad. I was not lying. Thats what it would have been in the then composition. If you truly believe you are going to be in the C range or worse, you should indeed leave if you can.

Then I would teach to the remaining, and the median grade would be an A-.
- PT21

I would assume the subject matter would have to lend itself to a very interpretive manner of grading right? I couldn’t imagine teaching a course like math where theoretically people could all turn in the same responses (unless math at a certain point becomes so advanced, it becomes theoretical. Obviously not my area of expertise but I’m sure in upper level disciplines it can).

The Flyers have...

Hart — The best example of his current value is looking at the 2020 Playoffs. I think he can be a superstar or more depending on the success of the team.

Couturier — 2020 Selke winner needs to stay healthy in the playoffs and have a performance results at least equivalent to his own in 2018. Defense with good offense isn’t sexy but it wins.

Giroux — He needs a role from the coaching staff in which he can succeed. In fairness, this means the Flyers need to avoid injuries that cut into the projected center depth. He also needs to flip his playoff switch back on. It doesn’t have to be the 2017-18 regular season level either. The 2018-19 regular season level converted to playoffs would do it.

Konecny — Well...I hope he doesn’t dwell on this one too long. His all-star level 2019-20 would be the bar to set for himself in future playoffs, but I think he could even find another gear in the event that say...we have a healthy center like Patrick he can gel with.

Provorov — He is trending well and just about to enter his prime. At only 24, I see him becoming as impactful as Heiskanen (at only 21 btw) was for Dallas this past playoffs. Talent has no age.

Outside of the (above) Flyers fab five, they have good support pieces in Hayes, Laughton, Voracek, Elliott, and Braun. The have many young players entering their prime that can be impactful and younger players with high ceilings. Their depth is a weapon. The balance on defense is a question mark but the pieces are there.
- NC Flyers Fan

I think for you guys, the timing just didn’t add up. Your young players are phasing in right as your older guys are phasing out. It’s definitely tough to time having that sweet spot where they overlap, and you never know how progression/regression chips are gonna break. I think that’s why I would tend to side more with the go for it crowd at this stage. You can debate whether Laine is truly “that guy”, but if you believe he is, I think you would be hard pressed to not try and get someone like that.

Makes mental note to never, ever challenge Peter Richards to a bar brawl.
- PT21

No worries there. Have three young children. Haven’t been to the bar in years and now wouldn’t. Just a way mate of money. Lol. Bartender and manage before. I know the mark ups. Honestly since I’ve had kids I think weddings have been the only times I’ve been drunk.

And done all that before. Now even if I win I’m prob breaking or pulling something myself. Lol

I would assume the subject matter would have to lend itself to a very interpretive manner of grading right? I couldn’t imagine teaching a course like math where theoretically people could all turn in the same responses (unless math at a certain point becomes so advanced, it becomes theoretical. Obviously not my area of expertise but I’m sure in upper level disciplines it can).
- stayinthefnnet

No, it was very mathy, not interpretive.

It's fairly rare in mathy classes that the theoretical possibility of everyone getting all correct answers plays out in reality. At least, I have never encountered or heard of a class like that. Of course, this is dependent on the tests, and experienced teachers will offer a set of questions that range from hard to easy, and enough of them, to separate out the class.

No worries there. Have three young children. Haven’t been to the bar in years and now wouldn’t. Just a way mate of money. Lol. Bartender and manage before. I know the mark ups. Honestly since I’ve had kids I think weddings have been the only times I’ve been drunk.

And done all that before. Now even if I win I’m prob breaking or pulling something myself. Lol
- Peter Richards

Who does anything like that after they are say, 25-30 at the very, very latest?

I was being facetious. And offering up my respect.

Anyone who has ever done anything hard in their lives, and given it their all, no matter what it is, usually end up having more in common than differences.

I think for you guys, the timing just didn’t add up. Your young players are phasing in right as your older guys are phasing out. It’s definitely tough to time having that sweet spot where they overlap, and you never know how progression/regression chips are gonna break. I think that’s why I would tend to side more with the go for it crowd at this stage. You can debate whether Laine is truly “that guy”, but if you believe he is, I think you would be hard pressed to not try and get someone like that.
- stayinthefnnet

Obviously, if you’ve read my past comments you know, I have been in the get someone else on defense camp for a while. Niskanen and Braun are good support and stopgap pieces. But being very real here, if Provy can’t say on track and Sanheim and Myers don’t step forward...it’s a risk not hitting that sweet spot.

I think the expansion draft complicated things but if they could trade for the upgrade at RD, it would be worth it to change the draft plan.

No, it was very mathy, not interpretive.

It's fairly rare in mathy classes that the theoretical possibility of everyone getting all correct answers plays out in reality. At least, I have never encountered or heard of a class like that. Of course, this is dependent on the tests, and experienced teachers will offer a set of questions that range from hard to easy, and enough of them, to separate out the class.
- PT21

Okay but then following that out, wouldnt I as a student expect my grade to align more in line with the percentage of questions I’ve gotten correct rather than my percentage in the standing of the class?

If I’m routinely getting 90 percent right, but the majority are getting 95, that would put you in line for a C despite an overwhelming mastery of the material? And yes, I do realize I’m grossly over simplifying the numbers.

The Flyers have...

Hart — The best example of his current value is looking at the 2020 Playoffs. I think he can be a superstar or more depending on the success of the team.

Couturier — 2020 Selke winner needs to stay healthy in the playoffs and have a performance results at least equivalent to his own in 2018. Defense with good offense isn’t sexy but it wins.

Giroux — He needs a role from the coaching staff in which he can succeed. In fairness, this means the Flyers need to avoid injuries that cut into the projected center depth. He also needs to flip his playoff switch back on. It doesn’t have to be the 2017-18 regular season level either. The 2018-19 regular season level converted to playoffs would do it.

Konecny — Well...I hope he doesn’t dwell on this one too long. His all-star level 2019-20 regular season would be the bar to set for himself in future playoffs, but I think he could even find another gear in the event that say...we have a healthy center like Patrick he can gel with.

Provorov — He is trending well and just about to enter his prime. At only 24, I see him becoming as impactful as Heiskanen (at only 21 btw) was for Dallas this past playoffs. Talent has no age.

Outside of the (above) Flyers fab five, they have good support pieces in Hayes, Laughton, Voracek, Elliott, and Braun. The have many young players entering their prime that can be impactful and younger players with high ceilings. Their depth is a weapon. The balance on defense is a question mark but the pieces are there.
- NC Flyers Fan

I could see Hart being a guy like his apparent idol. That's it.

No one is going to _scare_ anyone from the rest of that list. I mean scare. Like Barzal made us poop our pants this year.

I could see Hart being a guy like his apparent idol. That's it.

No one is going to _scare_ anyone from the rest of that list. I mean scare. Like Barzal made us poop our pants this year.
- PT21

Many of the “star players” from past top contenders and cup winners didn’t scare anyone but they were still the pieces that lead to team success.

Okay but then following that out, wouldnt I as a student expect my grade to align more in line with the percentage of questions I’ve gotten correct rather than my percentage in the standing of the class?

If I’m routinely getting 90 percent right, but the majority are getting 95, that would put you in line for a C despite an overwhelming mastery of the material? And yes, I do realize I’m grossly over simplifying the numbers.
- stayinthefnnet

Yes. Its quite common, such curving. You must have gone to a smaller (in terms of student numbers) school if you never encountered this.

What students would not realize in my case is that the class was curved, but where it was curved would be dependent on those who stayed in it. They would miss the nuance I wrote about earlier.

There was a colleague of mine. An utterly, utterly brilliant senior dude. Taught very hard classes, gave very hard tests. Lets call him S.

Another senior colleague "Z" was telling me of a situation when he was advising a student of his, who had just taken a class of S and was coming to see Z for advising after the first exam.

Z: How did it go"
Student: Not well. I got a 14.
Z: 14 out of what?
Student: 100
Z: Good god. Go and drop the class. You may fail.
Student: ok (leaves office)

Second student comes in, same class, same exam

Z: How did you do?
2nd student: I did well. S told me I got an A.
Z: Great. What did you get for a score?
2nd student: I got a 12.

Z goes running out of his office in search of first student: "Come back, come back!"

Many of the “star players” from past top contenders and cup winners didn’t scare anyone but they were still the pieces that lead to team success.
- NC Flyers Fan

We have had this discussion before.

That's what we all think.

On my first day of classes when I teach frosh, I have students write down the answer to the following question on a slip of paper.

"The median grade in this class will be a B-. Meaning 50% of the class will get either a B- or do better than a B-, and 50% will either get a B- or do worse. Now, what do you believe your grade will be?"

Its invariable: at least 65% of the class chooses a grade for themselves above a B-. (This is impossible, of course).

And the more men there are in the class, the more inflated the grade is.
- PT21

Jeez, should have known. A brainwasher . I feel so sorry for you. To come on a hockey site to get attention.

Who does anything like that after they are say, 25-30 at the very, very latest?

I was being facetious. And offering up my respect.

Anyone who has ever done anything hard in their lives, and given it their all, no matter what it is, usually end up having more in common than differences.
- PT21

Oh I figured. Was just sharing.

As far as the scary players to fear. G used to be but I don’t think anymore. I think coots is a player other teams worry about. And provie for d match ups.

Jeez, should have known. A brainwasher . I feel so sorry for you. To come on a hockey site to get attention.
- Angus4444

You are regressing again.

And would need to have a brain to know what it is to have it washed.

Its a delightful sensation, really.

Oh I figured. Was just sharing.

As far as the scary players to fear. G used to be but I don’t think anymore. I think coots is a player other teams worry about. And provie for d match ups.
- Peter Richards

Worry about... you mean have to game plan for, sure. But I don't think they scare anyone.

Play a good structured game, playoff type D, and Flyers will not be able to break it.

Yes. Its quite common, such curving. You must have gone to a smaller (in terms of student numbers) school if you never encountered this.

What students would not realize in my case is that the class was curved, but where it was curved would be dependent on those who stayed in it. They would miss the nuance I wrote about earlier.

There was a colleague of mine. An utterly, utterly brilliant senior dude. Taught very hard classes, gave very hard tests. Lets call him S.

Another senior colleague "Z" was telling me of a situation when he was advising a student of his, who had just taken a class of S and was coming to see Z for advising after the first exam.

Z: How did it go"
Student: Not well. I got a 14.
Z: 14 out of what?
Student: 100
Z: Good god. Go and drop the class. You may fail.
Student: ok (leaves office)

Second student comes in, same class, same exam

Z: How did you do?
2nd student: I did well. S told me I got an A.
Z: Great. What did you get for a score?
2nd student: I got a 12.

Z goes running out of his office in search of first student: "Come back, come back!"
- PT21

i went to a smaller undergrad, where grading was left to the professors discretion and there was no mandatory curve. in law school, it is basically required that a curve be maintained. that kind of mandatory curve would not lend itself to your trick and subsequent generosity haha but again, back to my initial point, in those types of environs, its basically assumed that it is you vs the class, and virtually everything is essay graded allowing large swaths of subjectivity. for 95 percent of law school courses, your entire grade is based off of a single sitting essay based format. that prevents a situation in which you can have say an entire class all arriving at 2 plus 2 equaling four, and having to decide who is "more" correct than the others.

i went to a smaller undergrad, where grading was left to the professors discretion and there was no mandatory curve. in law school, it is basically required that a curve be maintained. that kind of mandatory curve would not lend itself to your trick and subsequent generosity haha but again, back to my initial point, in those types of environs, its basically assumed that it is you vs the class, and virtually everything is essay graded allowing large swaths of subjectivity. for 95 percent of law school courses, your entire grade is based off of a single sitting essay based format. that prevents a situation in which you can have say an entire class all arriving at 2 plus 2 equaling four, and having to decide who is "more" correct than the others.
- stayinthefnnet

I used to work for an undergrad program where a lot of students went to law school. I am so glad I don't have to write those letter of recommendation anymore. And face all the begging and crying for grades.

I recommend TestMasters over Kaplan or Princeton Review.

Grandfather was navy for 41 years. First a medic in the pacific the went officer. Was an admiral.

Father enlisted as he thought his number was going to be called. He said it wasn’t. Never knew if he was joking or not. He was army.

I am a marine. Enlisted 2000-2004 active. Sgt. 5811 5814.
- Peter Richards

Thanks for your service.