Stanley Cup Playoff Pick 'Em 2007

[notyoueither]

So most of them can't be counted on to win in 2-way hockey against a talented team, even with Kipper.

So are they as good, top to bottom, as Detroit?

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Asher

Should be there in 03-04, too, but a ref decided not to call a goal.

Too bad they don't have call ins on that segment.

I would have paid to hear you question him.

[Asher]

Originally posted by notyoueither
So most of them can't be counted on to win in 2-way hockey, even with Kipper.

So are they as good, top to bottom, as Detroit?

Au contraire, what the team does well is 2-way hockey.

Playfair plays a 1-way game. There is no defensive system other than give it to forwards. And players like Iginla are simply not cut out to be players like Datsyuk like that. Or Hemsky, even.

They're better than that, and a good coach lets 'em play like that.

Sutter had a very specific, very rigid system that the Calgary Flames had thrived under. Playfair has a very loose, very open-ended system that the Flames have struggled mightily under.

Question the players if you want, but you're wasting your time. The players have earned our respect, Playfair has pissed it away. All of your half-baked rationalizations against Playfair or blaming the Players ignores the history of these players being incredible performers. And that's a mistake.

I don't care if you don't like Sutter, you can't deny what he has done for Calgary. Playfair's done nothing but cause headaches, and he needs to go.

[Asher]

Originally posted by notyoueither


Too bad they don't have call ins on that segment.

I would have paid to hear you question him.

Isn't Bobcat some Edmonton sports jock?

Why the hell would anyone listen to such a loser? Especially with a name like that.

[Asher]

On a related note, have you guys even watched Playfair in a game?

He exudes no confidence. He's clearly nervous the whole game. He literally picks his teeth during the game. His chin is actually visibly CALLOUSED because he nervously strokes it so much during the games.

Not only is he the clear problem from a historical perspective, he's the clear problem from simply WATCHING the guy behind the bench. I'm not even going to go into his habit of putting players like Amonte and Friesen and Yelle on the ice in the last minute of a 1-goal game when we're down a goal.

The guy's simply not an NHL-level coach. Sutter made a big mistake putting him in, and Playfair is going to get fired -- either now, or after he blows the series.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Asher

Isn't Bobcat some Edmonton sports jock?

Why the hell would anyone listen to such a loser? Especially with a name like that.

Don't you live in Toronto?

I don't know many Edmonton radio jocks with a nationally televised radio show.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Asher

Au contraire, what the team does well is 2-way hockey.

Playfair plays a 1-way game. There is no defensive system other than give it to forwards. And players like Iginla are simply not cut out to be players like Datsyuk like that. Or Hemsky, even.

They're better than that, and a good coach lets 'em play like that.

Sutter had a very specific, very rigid system that the Calgary Flames had thrived under. Playfair has a very loose, very open-ended system that the Flames have struggled mightily under.

Question the players if you want, but you're wasting your time. The players have earned our respect, Playfair has pissed it away. All of your half-baked rationalizations against Playfair or blaming the Players ignores the history of these players being incredible performers. And that's a mistake.

I don't care if you don't like Sutter, you can't deny what he has done for Calgary. Playfair's done nothing but cause headaches, and he needs to go.

Do you call planning on winning 1-0 2-way hockey?

I hope you're blogging this.

[Asher]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Don't you live in Toronto?

I don't know many Edmonton radio jocks with a nationally televised radio show.

I don't listen to any terrestrial radio nor watch idiots on TV talk. I take it you do, which explains a lot.

Do you call planning on winning 1-0 2-way hockey?

I hope you're blogging this.

Certainly defensively sound, and scoring enough to win.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Asher
On a related note, have you guys even watched Playfair in a game?

He exudes no confidence. He's clearly nervous the whole game. He literally picks his teeth during the game. His chin is actually visibly CALLOUSED because he nervously strokes it so much during the games.

Not only is he the clear problem from a historical perspective, he's the clear problem from simply WATCHING the guy behind the bench. I'm not even going to go into his habit of putting players like Amonte and Friesen and Yelle on the ice in the last minute of a 1-goal game when we're down a goal.

The guy's simply not an NHL-level coach. Sutter made a big mistake putting him in, and Playfair is going to get fired -- either now, or after he blows the series.

Perhaps he won't be a good coach long term.

Perhaps he would be a good coach on a team with some guts on the road.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Asher

I don't listen to any terrestrial radio nor watch idiots on TV talk. I take it you do, which explains a lot.

Do you call planning on winning 1-0 2-way hockey?

I hope you're blogging this.

Certainly defensively sound, and scoring enough to win.

Sutter Flames hockey is 2 way.

That's a hoot.

[Asher]

I seem to recall a team not too long ago that did better on the road than at home.

Hmm...who was the coach of that team?

Oh, Sutter.

[notyoueither]

Wouldn't it be a problem if only one guy could coach that team, and he can't coach that team?

I think Sutter is smart enough to know better. As a GM he is going to have to find the mix of players and coach to win. From what you said he is unlikely to fire from the hip and blame the coach. He knows better. That won't stop him from sacking the coach if that would be best for the team next year, but I doubt very much that many of the players get to skate on this one.

[Asher]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Wouldn't it be a problem if only one guy could coach that team, and he can't coach that team?

Who said just one guy could coach?

Playfair just isn't a good coach, let alone a coach that is a good match to this team.

I've no idea why you're being intentionally obtuse, but it's boring me to death.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher
Did you watch this game at all?

You watched the game, but you don't seem to understand what is happening.

You don't know what a checking forward is.

You did not seem to know that Regehr was playing injured.

You don't understand that the Flames without Regehr and Leopold are a completely different team.

You don't know what leadership on the ice means.

You don't understand that in the end, players decide what they do on the ice. They're not puppets controlled by the coach.

And anyone who calls a game "hopelessly lost" when the score is 2-1 doesn't know what they are talking about. If the score is 3-1 with 14 minutes remaining, the game is not "hopelessly lost."

Even if the shots are 35-11 against after two period, there is still hope, although for the Flames against the Wings, it is a slim hope.

No player is going to give up and go to the locker room when the score is 2-1 in a playoff game unless they have to.

You say that Regehr's injury doesn't leave a gap, and yet the Wings are dominating the Flames and no Flames d-man has stepped up to fill the gap. There's a gigantic gap.

Coaches can do a lot, but a coach is at a disadvantage when there is no leadership on the ice, when the players have given up and when the team lacks the talent to compete against a far superior team.

Playfair is not doing a great job, but he's just part of the problem.

And yes, I mistyped Playfair's name last night. Tell you what, you go play hockey, then have a few beers and we'll see whether you make any mistakes.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Asher

Who said just one guy could coach?

Playfair just isn't a good coach, let alone a coach that is a good match to this team.

I've no idea why you're being intentionally obtuse, but it's boring me to death.

You're the one bringing the discussion back to Sutter as coach.

I'd thought he ruled that out.

If one of his assistants can't do it, who will?

Do you also think Sutter said '**** yeah, go ahead and do whatever you want... system? what system?' 6 months later?