The NHL Lockout: What Can Be Done For The Fans?

The fans always get the short end of the stick in these labor stoppages.  The owners and players fight it out, trying to divide revenue that fans provide, take games off the schedule that fans want to see, and bring such a black mark on the game that fans really question why they support such idiocy.

There is no promise of continuous operation going forward, no cap on ticket costs, nothing besides a stenciled “Thank You Fans” that will undoubtedly adorn every ice surface for the next few weeks.  But, here are a few things that may bring some fans on the fence back from their threats to leave the game for good:

1.       Hold all ticket costs stable through 2014-15

Give jaded fans a reason to come back.  Show that while it was all about the money, the owners are not completely heartless.  Show there was a good reason to wait and give up 17 home dates.  After all, the fans should share in some of the cost certainty the owners have been preaching since 2004. 

2.       Give more perks league-wide to season ticket holders

Most season ticket holders could not get their money out if they could.  It was what amounted to a no-interest loan for some subscribers.  Make it worth their while.  Make it easier for them to re-up for next season with one-of-a-kind perks.  Let every season ticket holder get an autographed jersey.  Give season subscribers a meet-and-greet this year where the player actually has more than a five-second conversation with the fan.  Let the average fan see what it is like to take in a game from a luxury box.

3.       Give GameCenter Live away for free for the rest of this season and subsidize Center Ice for the rest of this season

Steve Lepore had a great point about Center Ice.  The NHL does not own the content all by itself.  The NHL should, however, subsidize subscribers after they fork over the dough to their cable or satellite company.  The NHL is getting a full-season of their TV money and 50% of their sponsor money this season.  It is safe to say they made it through the Lockout okay.  How about broadcasting your wonderful sport to anyone who wants to watch?

4.       Continue to grow the game at all levels and in all communities

Let’s face it: hockey players are the most down-to-earth, relatable athletes there are.  Hockey is grass-roots, it is homespun.  Hearing how a hockey player made the NHL is more heart-warming than any other rags-to-riches story, in my book.  So, let’s step up our efforts to allow these athletes to be ambassadors of the game. 

Brooks Orpik said the wrong thing a couple of weeks ago.  He put the responsibility squarely on the owners to grow the game.  Nope.  This sport’s stewardship is in the hands of everyone, especially the owners and the players, in partnership.  I know it is a hard word to understand, but these parties need to be partners.

5.       Commit to a return to a World Cup of Hockey every other September

Leave the Olympics to the amateurs, although basketball players, swimmers, and skiers, among others, are paid professionals now.  The beauty of the amateur hockey competition we just saw in the IIHF Under-20 World Junior Championship shows hockey in its best form.  Also, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey was a fantastic tournament that was very popular.  Instead of fitting professional involvement in national tournament hockey into the Olympics, why not create your own national tournament?  The owners and players should be partners (there’s that word again) on this.  Besides soccer, there is no sport that is more conducive to a tournament of professional players than hockey.  I would rather see a professional tournament every two or years for hockey than basketball, baseball, or any other sport combined.

6.       Commit to meaningful talks one full year before any expiration of the current CBA

The most annoying thing about this Lockout was that the deal that was agreed upon this weekend probably could have been agreed upon two months ago with a little bit of compromising.  The Lockout was a negotiating tool by the owners, which the “stick” for the players was dissolution of the union.  Enough with the leverage. 

Let’s enforce a one-year rule.  One year before the manual opt-out, come together to determine whether bargaining needs to re-open.  If we are on the right track and the CBA will go to its full term, open up talks for the next CBA one year before the agreement expires.  And, I do not want a couple of short sessions and a couple of press conferences.  I want meaningful talks.  I want progress 11 months before the CBA expires.  I want proposals and counter-proposals during the season leading up to the expiration of the agreement.  That way, mediation could occur early in the offseason if they are still at loggerheads.  The Lockout should never, ever be used as a negotiating tool.  Neither should the tired charade of dissolving the union and challenging the league’s anti-trust protection.  Let’s make less work for the lawyers and more work to find common ground.

What other things can the NHL and their teams do to bring you back as fans?  Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Catch me on "Sports With The StatMan" on Wednesdays at 11pm ET and Saturdays at 11am ET. We will have a special NHL: Return To Hockey episode this week.  Check the show page at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan for the latest show schedule.

A Petition to Save the Hockey Season

In this age of social media and going viral in an instant, the latest lockout news was not made by Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA chief Donald Fehr, or any of the other movers and shakers who could bring us hockey.  Or was it?  Janne Makkonen, a 21-year-old freelance video editor from Finland, may help make the fan's vote heard.  He took to YouTube to provide some inspiration in a video titled "Together We Can" and created a petition for all of us to try to do the same.

See the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQs3O_IDas
Sign the petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/gary-bettman-the-nhl-save-the-hockey-season-nolockout

I'll tell you this, it's inspiring.  I signed the petition and this is my reason for why this potential lockout is important to me:

***

Hockey, like any sport, marks the time.  The time was marked by greed between Fall 2004 and Summer 2005.  As much as people swore off the sport, people came back because the product was better.  Some people never returned.  With each work stoppage, more and more people will turn off hockey forever.  More will never attend another game.  More will move on to other things and spend their hard-earned money on something else.  Hockey, as in all sports, is a diversion from real life.  When real life greed permeates the great game of hockey, people get disillusioned.  How much more will we take before everyone just finds something else to do?

I get that everyone has to make a living, that this is a business, and one of the primary goals is to make money.  But, it is not the only goal.  The Stanley Cup stands for more than just money.  It is a legacy.  It is tradition.  It is pride.  Sadly, the hockey establishment has failed in all three areas.  Commissioner Bettman's legacy will be that of untold profits for the owners and sky-high ticket prices, while work stoppages have dotted the landscape.  The tradition of awarding a Stanley Cup every year since the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1919 was halted in 2005.  So much for tradition.  The pride of the owners, and the players, have brought us to the precipice of another work stoppage and a possibility of missing most or all of yet another season.

Hockey does mark the time and I am hoping the next few months will be marked with the puck on the ice instead of lawyers in board rooms.

2012 NHL Free Agent Frenzy Arrives

Welcome to this year’s free agent frenzy, which begins on July 1 at 12:00 PM eastern.  And, of course, Happy Canada Day to our neighbo(u)rs in the north.

The NHL free agency crop is a bit lacking this year, but with the cap increasing to $70.2 million, plenty of money will change hands and it will still be sure to be a frenzy.  This is the first free agency period in a few years where the trade market is more actually more interesting than the free agent market.  Forwards Rick Nash and Bobby Ryan are up for possible movement, as well as goaltender Roberto Luongo, who would have to share time with Cory Schneider if he stays in Vancouver.  There is top-end talent in this free agent class with Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, but a lot of potential free agents have opted to sign with their current clubs before July 1st.  Why?

Teams have more money to spend and free agent contracts have always been about overpaying and giving a long-term deal to players who are anything but a lock to produce and earn that huge contract.  General managers should opt for players who are known commodities in their organization, already having played with the guys on their roster and already having been coached by their staff.  Players usually wait for July 1st to see their paychecks potentially skyrocket, undoubtedly at the urging of their agents.

This year, however, players are uncertain about the looming expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement in September and a potential delay in the start of the 2012-13 season.  The result of a new CBA may be a reduced salary cap than what the league is working with today, so players are probably returning to the same security of a known situation with their existing teams. 

What is this, risk management for a time of the year where risk is cast aside?  Welcome to uncertain waters of today’s NHL and the labor issues that are right around the corner.

The trade market could pick up today because of the need to clear out cap space, which is the name of the game.  But, according to CapGeek, 19 teams are under the $54.2 million salary cap floor.  In other words, very little cap space has to be cleared.  Among those 19 teams, historically free-spending teams such as the Rangers, Canadiens, and Red Wings, are under the floor.  They will not have a problem throwing money at holes on their rosters.

Yet another wrinkle in this free agency season is the potential for some of the most sought-after free agents waiting a while before signing because of money issues with their previous clubs.  Shane Doan is waiting to find out about the Phoenix ownership situation, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger, which may become clearer on July 9th.  Zach Parise could very possibly wait a bit before deciding to sign somewhere new, as the Devils ownership situation needs a cash infusion and, according to the New York Post, the NHL is waiting a few weeks before stepping in.  But, this may take the better part of six weeks to determine the state of the franchise and Parise, and fellow free agent Martin Brodeur, will definitely sign before then.

At the down of the frenzy, Boston has the smallest amount of cap space ($278K) and their roster is all but set with 23 players under contract.  The Flyers have the fifth-most space in the league at about $10.5 million with 20 players signed, while the three New York-area teams are currently under the cap floor.  The Rangers are closest to the floor with about $50.5 million tied up in 16 players ($19.7 cap space), with the Devils ranking 11th in cap space available (about $25.3 million) and the Islanders figuring in 10th (about $25.5 million).*

The Islanders have improved their 2012-13 on-ice product with a draft day trade for defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky.  The Devils have the most to lose in free agency with Parise and Brodeur likely to leave, and they have signed some ancillary players such as their entire fourth line (Ryan Carter, Steve Bernier, Stephen Gionta).  The Rangers secured their backup goaltender in coming to an agreement with Martin Biron for $1.3 million per year for two years.  Boston arrived at an important agreement with restricted free agent, Tuukka Rask, on a one-year, $3.5 million deal, made much more important because of Tim Thomas taking a one-year sabbatical.  Philadelphia went the trade route in improving their defense by dealing James van Riemsdyk to Toronto for Luke Schenn.  Philadelphia may lose Matt Carle, who will command a big contract especially in this market.

Stay close to a smartphone, laptop, or TV on July 1st because you will see a few nutty contracts and some surprises.  And, if you have not done so yet, listen to our Free Agent Frenzy preview on Sports With The StatMan (Show #271) for our views on the free agency period and some predictions.

* - All figured courtesy of CapGeek.com

2011 NHL Free Agency: Predictions

First of all, welcome to July and one of the single biggest days on the NHL yearly calendar. And, of course, to our friendly neighbors to the north, Happy Canada Day.

On the most recent Sports With The StatMan show (#159) on Wednesday night, we went over the cap space and needs for the local teams:

LOCAL NEEDS
BOS: A puck-moving defenseman to possibly replace Tomas Kaberle
NJD: Defense, defense, defense (they still need defense even if Adam Larsson makes the team in '11-12)
NYI: A top-four defenseman and a top-six forward
NYR: A playmaking centerman and an offensive defenseman
PHL: Find a center to offset losses of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards

It is about 12:00 on July 1st -- high noon -- as the General Managers and free agents start getting down to business. Some teams have to reach the floor (see: Islanders) and others have money to spend (see: Flyers, Rangers). Add to that a dearth of big names and lots of money will be spent on relatively few players. Also, as we discussed on Wednesday's show, we talked about the very real possibility of an offer sheet being sent to a restricted free agent this year. There has only been one successful poaching since the lockout, Dustin Penner in 2007, but Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty, Keith Yandle, and Andrew Ladd headline those RFAs.

On Wednesday's show, we discussed our unscientific ranking system. Yes, we could use fantasy points, and that will be the tiebreaker within tiers of free agents, but I arranged my rankings in tiers. Instead of calling these tiers by numbers, in the spirit of Hockey Christmas, we have assigned a present to each tier.

10 TIERS OF FREE AGENTS
Top-Tier: Caribbean cruise (or a trip to '70s game show fave Beautiful Puerto Vallarta)
2nd Tier: Video game (such as NHL '12, with RFA Steven Stamkos on the cover)
3rd Tier: A new bike (who wouldn't want a new bike...that is, if you are under the age of 16)
4th Tier: A great book (perhaps The Rebel League by Ed Willes, which is a fantastic book)
5th Tier: Christmas CD (useless gift for the 330 days between Christmas Day and the next Christmas season)
6th Tier: Ugly sweater (Cosby sweaters may apply)
7th Tier: A year-long enrollment in the Jelly of the Month Club (it is a gift that keeps on giving the whole year)
8th Tier: School supplies (a few minutes late and likely many dollars short)
9th Tier: An array of meat snacks from Hickory Farms (tasty for about 5 minutes, forgotten in about 10 minutes)
10th Tier: Socks and/or underwear (should be renamed the Jon Sim Tier)

So, through that prism, here are the local teams' needs:
BOS: A new bike (puck-moving defenseman)
NJD: A new bike and a great book (defensemen)
NYI: Two great books (a top-four defenseman and a top-six forward)
NYR: A Caribbean cruise and a video game (playmaking center and offensive defenseman)
PHL: A new bike (a top-two center)

FREE AGENT RANKINGS
Caribbean Cruise tier: G Tomas Vokoun, F Brad Richards
Video Game tier: D Tomas Kaberle
New Bike tier: F Ville Leino, F Erik Cole, F Tomas Fleischmann
Great Book tier: F Teemu Selanne, F Matt D'Agostini, F Michael Ryder, F Simon Gagne, F Scottie Upshall, F Joel Ward, F Sean Bergenheim, D Ed Jovanovski, D Andy Greene
Christmas CD tier: D Anton Babchuk, F Radim Vrbata, F Andrew Brunette, D Ian White, F Michal Handzus, F Vinnie Prospal, F Ruslan Fedotenko, F Raffi Torres, D Jan Hejda, F Jamie Langenbrunner, D Sean O'Donnell, D Scott Hannan
Ugly Sweater tier (not a complete list): G Jose Theodore, G Brian Boucher, D Bryan McCabe, F Tim Connolly, F Sergei Samsonov, F Cory Stillman, F Christopher Higgins, F Jason Arnott, D Radek Martinek, F Max Talbot
Jelly of the Month Club tier (not a complete list): F Brendan Morrison, D Roman Hamrlik, G Peter Budaj, G Marty Turco, F John Madden, F Alexander Frolov, D David Hale, F Ben Eager, F Cody McCormick, F Brad Winchester
School Supplies tier (not a complete list): G Johan Hedberg, F Marty Reasoner, G Mathieu Garon, F Alex Kovalev, F Kyle Wellwood, D Karlis Skrastins, D Steve Eminger, F Zenon Konopka
Meat Snacks tier (not a complete list): G Curtis McElhinney, G Martin Gerber, F Eric Godard, F Cam Janssen
Socks/Underwear tier: G Nathan Lawson, F Todd White, G Patrick Lalime, F Mike Comrie

FREE AGENT LOCAL PREDICTIONS
BOS: D Bryan McCabe
NJD: D Andy Greene*, D Anton Babchuk
NYI: F Joel Ward, D Radek Martinek*
NYR: F Brad Richards, D Tomas Kaberle
PHL: F Ville Leino*, F Eric Belanger
* - retained by their 2010-11 NHL club

Source for salary cap information: capgeek.com

Who Will Play in the 2012 Winter Classic?

Who will play in the 2012 Winter Classic? All signs are pointing to the New York Rangers having one of the slots and it is about time the Classic comes to New York. Let’s look at the prerequisites to host a Winter Classic.

First, it should be an American city. Canada now has their Heritage Classic, which is played on the Sunday before Family Day in Canada, which is also the day before President’s Day in the United States. With a major television network carrying the event in the U.S., the game has to have a decidedly American flavor. New York, last time I checked, was in the lower 48.

Second, the city should be a cold-weather city. The NHL’s refrigeration truck is a marvel, but I do not think the technology is there to withstand 70 degree temperatures. If you looked at the ice in Pittsburgh last Sunday night, the rain and the above freezing temperatures made for a watery mess for some of the third period. The backdrop of palm trees would be nice, but it would not be practical.

Next, the game should involve a big market team to maximize viewership. There is no bigger market than New York. Three of the four American teams that comprise the Original Six have already been represented in the game: Chicago, Detroit, and Boston. Two of those three – Chicago and Boston – have hosted the game.

Who would the Rangers play? Regional rivalries may not play as well to a national audience. For all of the talk about ratings and big markets, the NHL has done very well with Washington-Pittsburgh, Philadelphia-Boston, Detroit-Chicago, and Pittsburgh-Buffalo, which can all be termed regional rivalries in the Northeast or the Great Lakes areas. So, maybe we shouldn’t discount a Rangers-Devils or Rangers-Islanders game on the grand stage. If not, the Rangers could go up against just about any other team. How about an Original Six-Next Six East-West matchup with the Rangers and Kings? The idea of the two biggest media markets coming together to help a sports league that could use all of the press it can get could push this matchup over the top.

Since the Canadiens are in this year’s Heritage Classic, the only Original Six team that has not played outside or booked to play outside would be the Toronto Maple Leafs. So, would a Leafs-Rangers game be that far-fetched? The Leafs were so hard up for the outdoor experience, the Leafs held a practice outside in a city park. The Bruins played in last year’s Winter Classic, but that has not stopped the NHL from tapping the Penguins twice. Then again, Zdeno Chara and Tyler Seguin do not quite have the same cachet as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. But, the Bruins and Rangers are rivals for the better part of a century.

Whether the game would be in the friendly confines of Citi Field or, more likely, the vast expanse of the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, the New York area would be a perfect host for next year’s Winter Classic.

The Islander Fan’s View of the Kovalchuk Saga

Islander fans were given false hope when a simple inquiry by General Manager Garth Snow was taken to mean the Islanders were involved in the bidding for Ilya Kovalchuk’s services. An Atlanta Thrasher for all but the last 27 regular season games and first playoff round last year, he was a New Jersey Devil until his free agency started on July 1st. Kovalchuk’s demands were made plain for any General Manager to see. He wanted $100 million. As with a lot of big name free agents in this salary cap age, the teams that would be willing to spend it did not have the cap room and the teams that had the cap room would not spend so much money on one player.

The players in the market for Kovalchuk were believable except for the Islanders. The Devils were in the running to sign him long-term and had the advantage of seeing him fit in well with the team, scoring 27 points in those 27 games and he was one of the few players that had a good playoff series in the Devils’ 5-game loss to the Flyers in the first round. The Los Angeles Kings were also very interested in Kovalchuk as the Kings are ready to move from a lower-level playoff team to an elite team in the Western Conference. But, that kind of money was too rich for the Kings under the salary cap. Enter the Islanders. They have nothing but cap room, even when you consider some of the youth coming due for their next contracts over the next couple of years. The Islanders could easily afford Kovalchuk in a 10-year/$100 million type of deal. But, this would have been about as out-of-character as Garth Snow would have been in his entire Islanders’ management tenure to date.

Instead of channeling his inner Mike Milbury, Snow was patient and only “inquired”. But, the speculation started and Islander fans hopped right on the bandwagon. Did the Islander fans feel used? Maybe. Did they think they honestly had a chance? Yes. Owner Charles Wang has shown a propensity for making the unthinkable deal. Alexei Yashin was signed to a 10-year deal before the 2001-02 season. Rick DiPietro signed a “lifetime” 15-year contract before the 2006-07 season. The Yashin experiment ended in a buyout the Islanders are still paying to Yashin. DiPietro’s deal was the first of the “lifetime” contracts to franchise players. Since the deal was signed, it looked like a sound deal for the Islanders, but several injuries later, the deal has been laughable as the Isles continue to wait for DiPietro to get healthy.

While the fans may have thought Snow or the media toyed with their emotions, it was probably a good thing the Islanders did not reel him in. While Kovalchuk would have fit within the cap, he did not fit what the Islanders were trying to do, which is to build from within and grow together. Kovalchuk would have pushed the fast-forward button on the rebuild, which is not a bad thing. But, Coach Scott Gordon’s rules certainly would have had to have been different for Kovalchuk. With one player so far above the others in pay and NHL accomplishment, the player would have his own rules.

After a long, drawn-out process of courting, offers, pulled offers, and counteroffers, the Devils managed to sign Kovalchuk to a landmark 17-year/$102 million deal. But, even before the press coverage to announce the signing, the NHL was in touch with the Devils, letting them know they would fight the validity of the deal. Now, it is before an arbitrator to make a decision on whether the contract will stand. The decision is due by the end of the day on Monday. It is just as well the Devils or another team gets Kovalchuk. The biggest issue for Islander fans over the next 17 (or fewer) years is not that he is not an Islander, but that the Isles will face Kovalchuk six times a season for the next several years.

So, how should you root for the arbitration decision if you are Islander fan? Hope the arbitrator overturns the decision and declares Kovalchuk a free agent. Then, hope Kovalchuk and the Kings can figure out a way to work things out quickly before a team who is willing to pay Kovalchuk’s asking price, somehow clears up enough cap room to sign him. It would be tough, but the Rangers could always try to move salary and sign him. Having Kovalchuk inside the division would be the biggest problem, whether it is with the Devils or the Rangers.

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Final Predictions

CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL (2nd Round) RESULTS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#8 Montreal defeats #4 Pittsburgh, 4 games to 3
The defending Stanley Cup Champions did not get out of the second round, as the Penguins dropped Game Seven at home.  Montreal got through Washington on the wings of a 3-1 comeback and the goaltending of Jaroslav Halak.  But, Montreal won a second Game Seven on the road because of more than just goaltending.  A 4-0 lead early in the second period made the final game anti-climactic.

#7 Philadelphia defeats #6 Boston, 4 games to 3
It was a tale of two series.  The Bruins had a 3-0 lead and held all of the cards.  The Flyers' Simon Gagne came back from injury in Game 4 and finished the series with four goals in the last four games of the series, including two game-winners.  Brian Boucher's luck was about to run out, losing the first three games before winning Game Four and was injured in Game Five.  Michael Leighton came off the bench, back from injury, and carried the Flyers in goal the rest of the series, making history along the way.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 San Jose defeats #5 Detroit, 4 games to 1
San Jose has shed their labels of playoff failures after this series, making it to the Conference Finals and they got there with their stars being stars.  Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau had great series and Joe Pavelski continued his big play in the second season.  Detroit was tired after a seven-game series win over Phoenix, but San Jose was rested and ready to go.  The Sharks built a 3-0 lead and won in five.

#2 Chicago defeats #3 Vancouver, 4 games to 2
Chicago owns Roberto Luongo, especially in Vancouver.  In the Conference Semifinals, Chicago has now defeated Vancouver in two straight playoffs, making it to consecutive Conference Finals for the first time since 1989-90.  Chicago is young and Vancouver's defense could not keep up.  The beat goes on in Vancouver with yet another playoff loss, but Chicago's renaissance continues.

CONFERENCE FINAL (3rd Round) PREDICTIONS
EASTERN CONFERENCE: #7 Philadelphia vs. #8 Montreal - PHILADELPHIA in 7 games
Flyer fans were dejected after being down 3-0 to the Bruins.  They were skeptical after wins in Game Four and Game Five.  After a Game Six win at home, the city was captivated.  Now, after doing the very, very improbable, the city is electric.  Welcome to the Conference Finals, which open Sunday in Philadelphia.  Montreal has played the maximum amount of games in both playoff series so far, so I think this will go the distance.  Montreal has won two Game Seven's on the road, but Philadelphia has the electricity of its fans and its city behind them.  Flyers in seven.

WESTERN CONFERENCE: #1 San Jose vs. #2 Chicago - CHICAGO in 7 games
Chicago has the longest drought of any team left in these playoffs.  A loss to San Jose would make it 50 years, but the Blackhawks are on their way back to prominence.  Despite their cap troubles, the time is now for Chicago.  Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook are the stars, but Antti Niemi has played better than expected in the first two rounds.  Both teams are running on all cylinders, but there is magic in Chicago.  I am picking the series to go the full seven games and for Chicago to win the deciding game on the road.  Blackhawks in seven.

Join me on Sports With The StatMan (#60) this Wednesday night at 9pm ET.  For the full wrap on the Conference Semifinal round, listen to last week's show on the show page (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan).

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Semifinal Predictions

CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL (1st Round) RESULTS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#8 Montreal defeats #1 Washington, 4 games to 3
The only Game 7 in the Eastern Conference proved to be the biggest upset in these playoffs.  The Canadiens became the first #8 team ever to come back from a 3-1 deficit in Stanley Cup Playoff history, providing a moment worthy of a 100th anniversary in season number 101.

#7 Philadelphia defeats #2 New Jersey, 4 games to 1
The Devils could not break through against Brian Boucher, which frustrated the team and led to a "resignation" by now former coach Jacques Lemaire.  The special teams told the story, as the Devils went 4-for-32 while the Flyers scored four more goals in one less opportunity with the man advantage (8-for-31).

#6 Boston defeats #3 Buffalo, 4 games to 2
In a series that got a little rough-and-tumble, the Bruins survived against the Sabres for the upset.  Tuukka Rask outplayed Ryan Miller when all was said and done in the series for Rask's first four career playoff victories.

#4 Pittsburgh defeats #5 Ottawa, 4 games to 2
Pittsburgh turned the corner against Ottawa, but Ottawa hung tough to force a Game Six.  But, once Pittsburgh netted seven against the Senators, the series definitely turned in the Penguins favor.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 San Jose defeats #8 Colorado, 4 games to 2
Colorado had a 2-1 lead after San Jose defenseman cleared a puck into his own net to give the Avalanche a 1-0 overtime win.  But, that was the last game the Avalanche won in the series and the Sharks outscored Colorado the rest of the way, 12-3.

#2 Chicago defeats #7 Nashville, 4 games to 2
Chicago goaltender Antti Niemi was a strength instead of a liability in the first round, shutting out Nashville twice.  Pekka Rinne also played well for the Predators, but their scorers came up a little short.

#3 Vancouver defeats #6 Los Angeles, 4 games to 2
The Kings had a good thing going, leading the series 2-1 after Game 3.  But, just like the Sharks-Avalanche series, the Canucks kicked it into high gear and won three in a row to send Los Angeles home for the summer.  Vancouver blitzed Los Angeles 17-8 in the final three games of the series.

#5 Detroit defeats #4 Phoenix, 4 games to 3
The only Game 7 in the Western Conference was not much of a matchup in the final game.  But, the series was point and counterpoint in the first six games with the Wings holding a 20-17 overall goal lead.  Detroit pulled away in Game 7, winning 6-1 and pushing the veteran playoff performers to the next round.

CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL (2nd Round) PREDICTIONS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#4 Pittsburgh vs. #8 Montreal - PITTSBURGH in 6 games
Montreal outlasted Washington and that could make them stronger.  But, how can you expect Montreal to beat two top-end world-class teams in a row?  You can't.  Pens in six.

#6 Boston vs. #7 Philadelphia - BOSTON in 6 games
If Boston thought their first round series with Buffalo was tough, this one against Philadelphia will be even tougher.  The Bruins have Marc Savard back on the ice and the team is poised to continue its run.  Boston and Philadelphia both have hot goalies, but I am predicting that Brian Boucher will turn into a pumpkin first.  Bruins in six.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 San Jose vs. #5 Detroit - SAN JOSE in 6 games
The Sharks may have gotten over their playoff struggles, but it will take more than one series to shake that bad reputation.  The Red Wings have the playoff pedigree, but they are tired and their goalie, brilliant as he has been at times this season, is still a rookie.  The Wings still have a lot left in the tank, but the Sharks might be finding their game.  If the first line can click, the Sharks will win.  My pick: Sharks in six.

#2 Chicago vs. #3 Vancouver - CHICAGO in 7 games
This series is a rematch from last season, when Chicago upset Vancouver.  Chicago is the favorite this time around.  Olympic brethren will face off as Jonathan Toews, Brent Seabrook, and Duncan Keith go up against gold medal teammate in Vancouver's Roberto Luongo.  This year, will it be a repeat or another upset?  I think this series will go the distance and I will go with the repeat.  Blackhawks in seven.

Sports With The StatMan: Fantasy Hockey Edition - Week 19

For the Games of February 7th-14th, 2010

Washington is on one of the best winning streaks of all-time.  As of Saturday night, the Capitals have won 13 in a row.  The all-time record is the 17-game winning streak posted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1993.  Washington has four games before the Olympic Break, hosting Pittsburgh and traveling to Montreal, Ottawa, and St. Louis.  The hallmark of the winning streak has been scoring.  Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom earned the first and second star among forwards and Tom Poti was the top-ranked defenseman in the NHL last week.

WEEK 18 REVIEW (Games of 1/31-2/6/2010)

THREE STARS

Forwards

-         1st Star: Alex Ovechkin WSH – 33.5 points (5-3-8 in 4 games, +4, 2 PIM, 2 PPG)

-         2nd Star: Nicklas Backstrom WSH – 33.5 points (3-7-10 in 4 games, +5, 6 PIM, 2 PPG)

-         3rd Star: Marian Gaborik NYR – 30.5 points (5-2-7 in 4 games, +4, 4 PIM, 1 PPG)

Local Forwards

-         1st Star: Marian Gaborik NYR – 30.5 points (#3 Forward overall)

-         2nd Star: Vinny Prospal NYR – 19 points (Tied-#12 F overall, 2-4-6 in 4 games, +2, 2 PIM, 1 PPG)

-         3rd Star: Ryan Callahan NYR – 14 points (Tied-#22 F overall, 2-2-4 in 4 games, -1, 2 PIM, 1 PPG)

Defensemen

-         1st Star: Tom Poti WSH – 27 points (1-3-4 in 4 games, +5, 1 PPG)

-         2nd Star: Jack Johnson LAK – 24.5 points (1-4-5 in 4 games, +2, 2 PIM)

-         3rd Star: Brian Rafalski DET – 20.5 points (0-4-4 in 4 games, +2)

Local Defensemen

-         1st Star: Marc Staal NYR – 14 points (Tied-#15 Defenseman overall, 0-3-3 in 4 games, +1)

-         2nd Star: Michael Del Zotto NYR – 9 points (Tied-#28 D overall, 0-2-2 in 4 games, +1, 4 PIM)

-         3rd Star: Matt Gilroy NYR – 8.5 points (Tied-#31 D overall, 0-2-2 in 4 games)

Goaltenders

-         1st Star: Jean-Sebastien Giguere TOR – 30 points (2-0-0 in 2 games, 2 SO, 0.00 GAA, 60 SV, 1.000 SvPct)

-         2nd Star: Jeff Deslauriers EDM – 27.4 points (2-2-0 in 4 games, 1 SO, 2.02 GAA, 137 SV, .945 SvPct)

-         3rd Star: Marty Turco DAL – 26.6 points (2-1-0 in 3 games, 1 SO, 1.01 GAA, 98 SV, .970 SvPct)

Local Goaltenders

-         1st Star: Ray Emery PHL – 12.6 points (#17 Goalie overall, 1-0-0 in 1 game, 1 SO, 0.00 GAA, 18 SV, 1.000 SvPct)

-         2nd Star: Henrik Lundqvist NYR – 10.7 points (#21 G overall, 1-2-0 in 3 games, 3.03 GAA, 86 SV, .905 SvPct)

-         3rd Star: Chad Johnson NYR – 8.8 points (Tied-#24 G overall, 1-0-0 in 1 game, 1.00 GAA, 34 SV, .971 SvPct)

Special Teams

-         Best in League: Atlanta Thrashers/Calgary/Los Angeles/Pittsburgh +9 points each

-         Best among locals: New York Rangers +5 (#7 ST overall, 5-18 PP, 20-23 PK, 0 SHG, 1 SHGA)

WEEK 19 PREVIEW (Games of 2/7-2/14/2010)

SCHEDULE

4-Game Weeks:

- Sunday-to-Saturday scoring period (17): Anaheim, Boston, Colorado, Edmonton, Montreal, New Jersey, Nashville, N.Y. Islanders, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Jose, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Vancouver, Washington

- Monday-to-Sunday scoring period (13): Anaheim, Colorado, Edmonton, New Jersey, Nashville, N.Y. Islanders, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Jose, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Vancouver

2-Game Weeks:

- Sunday-to-Saturday scoring period (1): Toronto

- Monday-to-Sunday scoring period (1): Toronto

Local Matchups:

- Devils at Flyers (Monday), Flyers at Devils (Wednesday)

START ‘EM and SIT ‘EM

Last Week (Start vs. Sit)

- Forwards: Mike Knuble WSH (2-2-4 in 4 games, +6, 2 PIM) vs. Ryan Kesler VAN (1-1-2 in 3 games, -2, 2 PIM, 1 PPG) (W, Knuble 17.5, Kesler 4.0)

- Defensemen: Ian White CGY (0-1-1 in 4 games, +1, 2 PIM) vs. Zdeno Chara BOS (1-0-1 in 3 games, -2, 2 PIM, 1 PPG) (W, White 5.5, Chara 0.0)

- Goaltending: Jonathan Quick LAK (4-0-0 in 4 games, 2.50 GAA, 84 SV, .894 SvPct) vs. Brian Elliott OTT (2-1-0 in 3 games, 2.62 GAA, 89 SV, .927 SvPct) (W, Quick 18.8, Elliott 14.8)

Season: 11-4 (3-0 last week)

Forwards

- Start: James Neal DAL – In the first few weeks of the season, Neal was a solid performer with three double-digit weeks in his first four.  In the next 11 weeks, Neal had one double-digit week, went through a slump, a suspension, and a groin injury.  Since, he has put up two double-digit weeks in the last three and looks like his early-season self.

- Sit: Ryan Malone TBY – Malone has been in a bad way lately.  I mean, really bad.  Since a 23-point week in Week 12, Malone has scored -3 fantasy points.  How he is starting in any fantasy league is beyond me.  Why is he still on my fantasy roster?  Since December 21st, where he had two goals and two assists against the Islanders, Malone is 3-3-6 in 21 games and is playing at a minus-12.

Defensemen

- Start: Mark Giordano CGY – Giordano may be the NHL’s best-kept secret.  Don’t look now, but two goals in his last two games give him 10 markers on the season.  Only five defensemen have more.

- Sit: Christian Ehrhoff VAN – Ehrhoff has not put points up lately and even though he has a plus-22 rating this season, he is a minus-3 in his last 3 games and the Canucks are going to be on the road for a while.  Ehrhoff is a +21 in 31 home games and +3 in 27 road contests this year.

Goaltending

- Start: Michael Leighton PHL – Ray Emery is hurt again and may be out for a while.  Leighton was good when the Flyers really needed him and there is no reason to think he will let them down this time.

- Sit: Jose Theodore WSH – Theodore and the Caps goaltending is the only facet of their game that is not firing on all cylinders right now.  Also, Semyon Varlamov is getting healthy, so Theodore’s days of being the starter may be numbered.

Upcoming Schedule

• Show Notes blog (#45)

• “Random Musings” sports column

• Sunday 10-11pm ET: Sports With The StatMan (#46)

• Fantasy Hockey Edition – Week 20

* All blogs will be available on our “secondary” blog, which is called “Random Musings from the StatMan” (http://gstatman.blogspot.com). You can listen to the show live at our show page (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan) or download the podcast, which is normally available 15 minutes after the show, either from the show page or from iTunes (search: Sports With The StatMan).

Here are the ways to follow along with the blogs and also find the show:

• Show Page: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan

• Twitter: http://twitter.com/gstatman

• “Random Musings” blog: http://gstatman.blogspot.com

• iTunes: search for “Sports With The StatMan”

Send your pro or fantasy questions or comments on the Show Page or the “Random Musings” blog, or you can send me a tweet. I’ll be sure to get back to you. Also, check the show page for times and schedules of our one-hour show and our last blog entries, such as our Fantasy Hockey Edition and our Random Musings weekly sports column.

Sports With The StatMan #44: Show Notes

Before we get to the timeline, take a look at last week’s Random Musings sports column, “Building Something”.

Timeline

00:00-12:00 – Open: The month of February, the Super Bowl bye week, and why hockey needs a big Olympics

12:00-18:30 – Show information and February schedule

18:30-27:00 NFC Conference Championship wrap, Thoughts on Favre’s next career move

27:00-40:00 NHL: Local Matchups, Rangers talk, Islanders talk

40:00-56:00 NHL: Flyer talk, Leafs dealing, Bruins are ice cold, Devils talk

56:00-68:00 NHL: Goalies for Sale, NHL Standings and Playoff Races

68:00-76:00 MLB: Mets let free agents pitchers them by

76:00-78:00 – Close: Next Week’s Show Preview, Upcoming Schedule

Main Points

00:00-12:00 – Open: The month of February, the Super Bowl bye week, and why hockey needs a big Olympics

I’ve never been a big fan of the bye week between the Conference Championship games and the Super Bowl.  We lose our momentum for football.  There are two weeks to break down the big game.  The Colts can stop the run and the Saints’ blitz will be figured out by Colt QB Peyton Manning.  The Colts are favored by a little more than a field goal, but there is another week to talk about the game.

February is the time between the Super Bowl and Spring Training.  February is a chance for hockey to gain notoriety and while there is less NHL action in February than usual, the Olympics are this month.  They need a great Olympics to help get hockey back into the national consciousness.  They need impact trades and there were two today.  The Maple Leafs sent scoring away (Niclas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Jason Blake) and brought back defense (Dion Phaneuf) and goaltending (Jean-Sebastien Giguere).  There are still deals to be made and it will be a fun February for hockey.

Also:

-         What is going on with the Bruins and Rangers?

-         What are the Mets doing?  I wonder if they know at this point.

12:00-18:30 Show information and February schedule

February Schedule for “Sports With The StatMan”

Sunday, February 7th, 10am-11am ET: Super Bowl predictions

Sunday, February 14th, 10pm-11pm ET: Olympic Hockey Preview, NFL Season In Review

Thursday, February 18th, 10pm-11pm ET: Olympic Hockey talk, 2010 AL West Preview

Sunday, February 28th, 8pm-9pm ET: Olympic Hockey wrap, 2010 NL West Preview

18:30-27:00 NFC Conference Championship wrap, Thoughts on Favre’s next career move

The Saints defeated the Vikings in overtime, 31-28, on a Garrett Hartley 40-yard field goal.  The Saints won the coin flip, marched down the field, thanks in part to two first downs by penalty, and Hartley booted the first down.  There was a very questionable pass interference call on Ben Leber that gave the Saints their final first down.  But, the Vikings have only themselves to blame.  Brett Favre could have run a few yards to set up a field goal with 19 seconds left.  He could’ve thrown it out of bounds.  But, Favre threw an interception and his season ended on the interception.  He never played another down.  This is not the first time this has happened.  But, Favre is a gunslinger and this is who he is.

Will Favre return?  I don’t think he would go out like that, but I don’t think he will make the decision on retirement any time soon because the wound is too fresh.  When he makes his decision will determine how much I will believe him.  I’ll believe him if he is still retired on Labor Day.  But, he could still pull a Pedro Martinez and join a team during the season next year.  He is definitely an original.  If he won the Super Bowl, you would have to include him in the conversation with the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

The Saints used their blitzing defense to beat Favre up, but they will not have as much success with that blitz against Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl.  The Saints also do not have the shutdown corner that the Jets have, so Reggie Wayne will be active in the passing game.  Hartley’s game-winning field goal means that Hartley, who started the season on a four-game suspension for using a banned substance, and who was not the regular kicker for most of the season, will end his season in the Super Bowl.

The Saints have not been to a Super Bowl since entering the league in 1967.  This Super Bowl is really all about New Orleans.  Manning grew up in New Orleans.  Manning’s father, Archie, was a Saints hero in New Orleans.

27:00-40:00 NHL: Local Matchups, Rangers talk, Islanders talk

• The Islanders lost to the Flyers on Saturday afternoon, 2-1, in the only local matchup this week.

• The Devils and Rangers meet at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night in a rematch from the regular-season classic game in their last meeting, a 1-0 shootout win for the Devils.

Rangers

The Rangers could really use a win right now.  They are in a bad way.  Since the two-game 14-goal outburst against Montreal and Tampa Bay, they have been outscored 20-5 in five games in dropping all five games.  Goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been hung out to dry and the victim of no goal support. 

Coach John Tortorella has nowhere else to go after going to the whip earlier in the season.  He has resorted to starting a war of words with New York Post reporter Larry Brooks.  When a team stops listening to their coach, the coach is done.  Just look at the Islanders and Peter Laviolette in 2003.  The team tuned him out and he was soon fired.  He won the Stanley Cup in Carolina 3 years later and he is now at the helm of a Flyers team that is playing very well.  Eric Mangini got another year in Cleveland because the players responded to his possible firing with four straight wins to end the season.

The Rangers have lost five in a row and close the week at home against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference in Washington and New Jersey.  They have to win one of the first two games this week against Colorado and Los Angeles.

Islanders

The Islanders will get some rest during the Olympic break, which is more than most teams.  That may be the only thing that will help them.  The Islanders are wasting a golden opportunity to get into playoff position.  The logjam between 6th and 13th place in the Eastern Conference is starting to spread out and the Islanders are sinking to bottom of that group.  The goaltending is as muddled as over.  Martin Biron is far away from the Coliseum and Dwayne Roloson has not been the same since Rick DiPietro has not been the same.  Roloson thrives on workload and knowing that DiPietro is going to take half his starts, even though he knew this would happen, has hurt his confidence.

Jack Hillen has had a good year as an up-and-coming defenseman for the Islanders and he was hit in the jaw by an Alex Ovechkin slapshot in the 7-2 loss on Tuesday night to the Capitals.  Hillen will be out 6-8 weeks with a fractured jaw.  Andrew MacDonald is another up-and-coming defenseman for the Islanders.  MacDonald is on his way to being the Hillen of last season.

The Islanders have had a tough run lately, but this is what they signed up for.  They are going to win games they are supposed to lose and lose games they are supposed to win.  It is all part of the growing process for the young team.  In the latest “Random Musings” sports column, called “Building Something”, draws some parallels between the Islanders and Jets.

40:00-56:00 NHL: Flyer talk, Leafs dealing, Bruins are ice cold, Devils talk

Flyers

The Flyers continue to score first, now 16 of 18 games where the Flyers have had the early lead.  Coach Peter Laviolette juggled his lines, and it resulted in the first goal against the Islanders in the their 2-1 win on Saturday.  The Flyers defeated the Islanders for the 14th straight time, which equates to more than two years.  Did the line juggling work because the team bought into it or just because they were playing a team they have handled so well?

In the next week, the Flyers will go on a Western Canada trip, but they could not have better timing.  The Oilers are the worst team in the league.  The Flames just lost one of their best players in Dion Phaneuf.  Did Phaneuf have issues in the locker room?  How the Flames come out after the trade will explain a lot.

Speaking of Phaneuf, the Leafs made two nice deals in picking up the solid defenseman and Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who has a chance to rejuvenate his career.  Giguere is a Cup winner for the Ducks in 2007 and won the Conn Smythe Award on the losing Ducks team against the Devils in 2003.  Phaneuf will add some impact to the blueline, adding more physical play to an already-physical back line with Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin, and Luke Schenn.  Jason Blake, who was a big part of the Giguere trade, never fit in with the Leafs.  He signed the big contract and never reached the same level he was at with the Islanders.  Blake will be back in Southern California where he started his NHL career, when he was with the Kings.  Giguere is a lot better than Vesa Toskala, who was shipped to Anaheim with Blake.  Toskala was a much maligned player for the Leafs.  So, the Leafs are going to do well after this trade. 

Bruins

The team is now healthy, as only Andrew Ference is on Injured Reserve.  But, the wheels are still falling off.  The Bruins have not won since their California trip.  In the last game of the California trip, the Bruins lost to the Kings in a shootout.  Including that game and the six games since, the Bruins are 0-5-2 and have been outscored 23-11.  The Bruins have not won at home in almost a month (January 5th vs. Ottawa), currently holding a six-game home losing streak.  They have three home games this week, but it is against scalding Washington, rival Montreal, and sizzling Vancouver.  A big week would get them back into playoff position, but they are holding their breath and trying not to fall any farther.

Devils

The Devils were shutout and lost in a shootout earlier in the week, but they had a big OT win on a Travis Zajac goal.  In that game, Jamie Langenbrunner was taken off the same line as Zach Parise and Travis Zajac and Dainius Zubrus joined them.  The line combined for four of the five goals in that 5-4 OT victory.  Could this line (Killer Z’s? Nytol Line?) stick around for a while?

The Devils will face Toronto twice in the next week, so they will see first-hand the effect of the new recruits for the Leafs.

56:00-68:00 NHL: Goalies for Sale, NHL Standings and Playoff Races

Where will the other goaltenders go?  Marty Turco and Martin Biron are out there.  The Flyers no longer need a goaltender, as Ray Emery is back from injury and Michael Leighton has proven to be a very good backup.  Who needs a backup or who needs some short-term help?  Goaltending around the league is pretty stable.  Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Washington have had injuries or ineffectiveness from incumbent goaltenders, but they have settled those issues from within.

Vancouver has started on their 14-game, 42-day road trip, which includes the Olympic Break.  They won the first game of the trip to start on the right foot.  Vancouver has won seven in a row and the Canucks are 3rd in the Western Conference.  However, Vancouver is only 11-11-1 on the road.  Will they get more than 14 points during their 14-game trip?…Ottawa has won 9 in a row and has risen to 5th place in the Eastern Conference…Carolina has won four in a row, so even the bottom of the Eastern Conference is playing very well.  The top five spots are pretty safe in Washington, New Jersey, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa.  Philadelphia and Florida are next, with Atlanta and Montreal close behind…In the Western Conference, the Kings are hot, winning six in a row, including two against the Bruins in shootouts, and have climbed all the way to 5th in the West.  Calgary snapped a long losing streak with a big win against Edmonton, and the Flames are in 8th but tied in points with 9th-place Detroit.

68:00-76:00 MLB: Mets let free agents pitchers them by

The Mets have sat idly by while Joel Pineiro, Jon Garland, and Ben Sheets pass them by.  Not that the Mets should have jumped at any of these pitchers.  The Sheets deal of $10 million guaranteed plus incentives is a tough call for Oakland.  If the deal does not pan out, the A’s will not be able to rebound from that move as easily as a team in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Boston would.

The Mets have to do something.  They need a starting pitcher and the only way to go right now is by trade.  Mike Pelfrey is not a #2.  John Maine is not a #3.  Oliver Perez might be a #5.  If the Mets can get a #2 pitcher behind Johan Santana, Pelfrey and Maine can slot themselves where they belong on the staff.

In the deal to get Gary Matthews, Jr., they traded reliever Brian Stokes.  Now, they could use another arm in the bullpen.  A 7th-inning reliever is more important than a 4th or 5th outfielder.

A lot of the moves have not made have been smart in letting Sheets, Carlos Delgado, and Bengie Molina go.  They are learning after paying Oliver Perez his overvalued contract last offseason, but that does not bring in the right players for 2010.  There is no reason why the Mets should not try to contend.  They have a great nucleus and they have pillars to their franchise.  The wrath of Met fans are coming from the bad taste in their mouths from last year and the poor persona of Omar Minaya in the media.

The big move the Mets did make was for Jason Bay.  He needs to hit 30 homers to validate the signing and that might help David Wright get a few more out of the park, too.

Free agents still out there: Johnny Damon, Orlando Hudson, Erik Bedard, Jose Valverde

76:00-78:00 – Close: Next Week’s Show Preview, Upcoming Schedule

Next Week

We will have Breakfast with the StatMan on Sunday morning.  Our next show (#45) will be at 10am Eastern time for an hour on Super Bowl Sunday.  We will have our Super Bowl predictions and we’ll talk some more hockey and Hot Stove baseball.

Upcoming Schedule

• Wednesday: “Random Musings” Sports Column (blog)

• Saturday night: Sports With The StatMan: Fantasy Football Edition – Super Bowl XLIV (blog)

• Sunday, 10-11am ET: Sports With The StatMan: No. 45 (live show)

• Sunday: Sports With The StatMan: Fantasy Hockey Edition – Week 19 (blog)

* All blogs will be available on our “secondary” blog, which is called “Random Musings from the StatMan” (http://gstatman.blogspot.com). You can listen to the show live at our show page (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan) or download the podcast, which is normally available 15 minutes after the show, either from the show page or from iTunes (search: Sports With The StatMan).

Here are the ways to follow along and get in touch with the show:

• Show Page: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-StatMan

• Twitter: http://twitter.com/gstatman

• “Random Musings” blog: http://gstatman.blogspot.com

Send your pro or fantasy questions or comments on the Show Page or the “Random Musings” blog, or you can send me a tweet. I’ll be sure to get back to you. Also, check the show page for times and schedules of our one-hour show and our last blog entries, such as our Fantasy Hockey Edition and our Random Musings weekly sports column.