Brad Richards Retires

[Coco-puffs]

But none come close to 50 goals in 44 games... even "adjusted" he had 45 goals in 49 games that year.

Except look at Nolan's adjusted 94-95 numbers. They're actually better than Neely's adjusted 93-94(the 50 goals in 44 games year).

Either way, that's one year. For their careers their adjusted PPG is pretty similar, .87 for Neely and .79 for Nolan.

Actually, they are not.  The 94-95 stats are a bit misleading because that was a lockout-shortened season.  Nolan scored 30 goals in 46 games played that season (out of 48 games) (while Neely had 27 goals in 42 games).  But their adjusted stats are based on A FULL SEASON.  By extending the season to 82 games Nolan's adjusted numbers would be 52 goals in 78.5 games and Neely's would be 47 goals in 72 games. 

They only adjust a player's point totals to 82 games in seasons when there was less than 82 games played total.  If a player was injured in a year with 82 games, they don't adjust their output to 82 games... they just adjust for the scoring rate differences between eras.  If you were to do that with Neely's 93-94 season (ie, extend his games played from 49 to 82) he would have scored 75 "adjusted" goals. 

Neely's 93-94 season was one of the best goal scoring runs in history, and he did it while fighting injuries all season.

And, in my mind, an adjusted career 0.87 PPG is a step above 0.79 PPG

 

[Kin]

Actually, they are not.  The 94-95 stats are a bit misleading because that was a lockout-shortened season.  Nolan scored 30 goals in 46 games played that season (out of 48 games) (while Neely had 27 goals in 42 games).  But their adjusted stats are based on A FULL SEASON.  By extending the season to 82 games Nolan's adjusted numbers would be 52 goals in 78.5 games and Neely's would be 47 goals in 72 games.  NOTE:  They only adjust a player's point totals to 82 games in seasons when there was less than 82 games played total.  If a player was injured in a year with 82 games, they don't adjust their output to 82 games... they just adjust for the scoring rate differences between eras.

If you were to do that with Neely's 93-94 season (ie, extend his games played from 49 to 82) he would have scored 75 goals.  Neely's 93-94 season was one of the best goal scoring runs in history, and he did it while fighting injuries all season.

Ah. Fair enough. I should have caught that. Point to you.

And, in my mind, an adjusted career 0.87 PPG is a step above 0.79 PPG

It's a pretty marginal one. It's the difference between 71 points and 65 points over the course of 82 games.

Regardless, I'm not making the case that Nolan was better than Neely. I probably lean towards Neely on that one by a small margin, as is reflected in those PPG totals. What I'd take issue with is the categorization of the difference between the two of them as Neely being a legit HOF candidate and Nolan not even being in any serious HOF discussion. They were very similar players with the noted caveat that Neely had that one great year.

 

[PrestigeWorldwide]

Strange to think that Richards, Lecavalier and St. Louis are all retired now. In fact I think the whole '04 team that won the cup is out of the league.

Man that makes me feel old.  I still remember when LeCav was the new up and coming franchise player and all the rumours of the Leafs getting him.

 

[Tigger]

I can remember yelling 'Ribble!' at the tv, hoping Saganiuk would live up to his name and, yeah.... Oh and a year of Tremblay and Larocque. Old, pffft.