Stanley Cup Playoff Pick 'Em 2007

[Asher]

Vancouver games are boring enough on TV, how could you deal with the radio?

[joncha]

How are Calgary games these days?

[Asher]

They just lost in OT of the eastern conference final the other night.

Still great hockey, though.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon

D'OH! They say you can watch on your computer - so why is it only available in N. America?

Because Bettman and the NHL are too friggen stupid to realize they could make money by selling Internet broadcasts like the NFL and MLB does.

In the meantime, try sopcast.

[Asher]

Because Bettman and the NHL are too friggen stupid to realize they could make money by selling Internet broadcasts like the NFL and MLB does.

While I hate Bettman as much as the next guy, you again don't know what you're talking about.

The NHL broadcasts are done with regional licenses. Networks can stream games online, but only in the countries that they licensed. NHL CI is going to stream all games online starting next year, CBC already streams them now.

[Tingkai]

Well Asher, I see you're still being consistent.

MLB and NFL sell packages to view games over the Internet, and is available outside North America. They have done this for years.

NHL CI is only available in North America and the CBC internet feed is only available in North America. Same with Comcast. Same with Yahoo.

Bettman and the NHL are blind to the money making possibilities that exists outside North America. It's another example of how they are failing to develop the sport.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Tingkai
Well Asher, I see you're still being consistent.

MLB and NFL sell packages to view games over the Internet, and is available outside North America. They have done this for years.

NHL CI is only available in North America and the CBC internet feed is only available in North America. Same with Comcast. Same with Yahoo.

Bettman and the NHL are blind to the money making possibilities that exists outside North America. It's another example of how they are failing to develop the sport.

CBC is only available in Canada because CBC is a Canadian broadcaster.

NHL CI has special agreements with its suppliers to only broadcast in the US and Canada.

Not to mention:

MLB.com has been providing streaming video since the 2002 season[1], with only audio available before that. However, in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Guam and the US Virgin Islands, blackout restrictions apply.

[KrazyHorse]

Sitting pretty so far in this round. All my picks are ahead 2-1 after 3, and since I picked either 4-1 or 4-2 for all of them, I might luck out on a couple of series and score two points.

[Asher]

Y'all heard it here first. A friend of mine that staffs the National Post sportsdesk just got word that Jim Playfair has been FIRED.

Edit: Maybe. Perhaps not yet.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Sitting pretty so far in this round. All my picks are ahead 2-1 after 3, and since I picked either 4-1 or 4-2 for all of them, I might luck out on a couple of series and score two points.

Ditto

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
Y'all heard it here first. A friend of mine that staffs the National Post sportsdesk just got word that Jim Playfair has been FIRED.

Edit: Maybe. Perhaps not yet.

HUh??

IF he is fired it will probably come as a surprise to PLayfair-- This story is about a week old IIRC and appears on calgaryflames.com

Playfair would start another season right away
CALGARY (CP) - Jim Playfair didn't seem like a man expecting the axe.

The head coach of the Calgary Flames spoke with ease and humour for a long time Tuesday as his players were put through medicals and meetings before starting their summer.

One of many questions in Calgary on the heels of the Flames' first-round exit from the playoffs in six games to the Detroit Red Wings was, did Playfair do a good enough job in his first year as head coach?

Both daily newspapers posted that question prominently in Tuesday's editions.

Playfair sounded like he expected to be back behind the bench next season.

''Seriously, I wish the season started tomorrow morning,'' he said. ''You know you're going to do a better job. It's like `let's go.' That's the excitement of wanting to correct anything you did wrong.''

Calgary had a 43-29-10 record in the regular season, but the Flames were predicted to accomplish more than hanging on for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference and losing in the first round.

It seemed the team that had the best defence in the NHL the previous year under Sutter only needed more goal-scoring to be a Stanley Cup contender.

Calgary scored more goals, but gave up more chances to its opponents this season.

''Consistently, we didn't defend enough,'' Playfair said. ''I'm totally in the belief we have to be better at defending and keeping our goals-against down and our goal-scoring will totally take care of itself. That wasn't the case all the time this year.

''That has to be more of a consistent, reinforced area of our team play. It's the best part to fix because it's strictly based on work.''

The players, particularly those who knew they would be back in the fold next season, blamed themselves and not Playfair for the early end to their post-season.

''You can't always call for the coach's head when the players don't excel,'' defenceman Rhett Warrener said.

Flames captain Jarome Iginla would not comment on his coach's performance.

''They tell us how we did. We don't tell them how they did,'' Iginla said with a chuckle.

Forward Craig Conroy says switching coaches again would not help the Flames.

''It's Jimmy's first year and it's growing pains,'' Conroy said. ''Jimmy knows the team, he knows what's going on. I always thought he did a good job handling everybody.

''When you lose in the first round, there's all these questions and they're going to be out there, but for me I thought the whole coaching staff did a great job.''

But winger Jeff Friesen was not happy with his role on the team.

''It was a step back in becoming a defensive forward,'' Friesen said. ''I was disappointed I wasn't a bigger part of the team. I felt I could have helped out a lot more.''

Friesen is one of nine players who become unrestricted free agents on July 1 and defenceman Brad Stuart is the one who will attract the most attention.

The Flames acquired Stuart and Wayne Primeau from Boston at the trade deadline and Stuart will command much more than his $2.4 million US salary on the open market this summer.

''There's a lot of time for me to go through that process,'' Stuart said. ''I really did enjoy coming here. Definitely it's a place I could see myself coming back to, but I'm not at that point where I'm making that decision yet.''

Playoff hero Miikka Kiprusoff and Iginla, the franchise player, become unrestricted free agents after next season and those negotiations could start this summer.

''Ideally I'd like to get it done in the summer, but if not, you deal with it,'' Iginla said.

Iginla's salary is $7 million and Kiprusoff is scheduled to make $3.6 million next season.

''You've got to look at those two guys. Might as well sign them right now,'' Conroy said. ''Everybody else is interchangable in my mind.''

Playfair said he picked up his children from school Monday after the Flames lost in double overtime to Detroit the previous night. They were on the receiving end of comments about the Flames' performance from their classmates and teachers.

''I said, `you guys get free tickets to every hockey game. Suck it up,''' he said.

While Playfair was jocular Tuesday, the players were not after meeting with Sutter and the coaches after a season in which felt they could have done more.

''It's not a fun day,'' defenceman Dion Phaneuf said.

Notes: Other UFAs include defenceman Roman Hamrlik, forwards Primeau, Byron Ritchie, Darren McCarty, Tony Amonte and Marcus Nilson and backup goaltender Jamie McLennan . . . Forward Matthew Lombardi, who would be a restricted free agent this summer, said Tuesday that he and the team have agreed on a contract extension.

[Flubber]

Asher what gives? Did your source hear he was fired or not?

Or did he hear he will be fired later ( which makes little sense)

[Asher]

IF he is fired it will probably come as a surprise to PLayfair--

This is precisely the problem. He's not in touch with reality.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Flubber
Asher what gives? Did your source hear he was fired or not?

Or did he hear he will be fired later ( which makes little sense)

He was told he was fired. The articles were being prepared, then he was told to hold up as they fact check.

[Asher]

Damnit, looks to hold no water.