It's hard not to feel a little fatigued.  It's been nearly four years since I published these guidelines with the help of the Washington Capitals to help NHL teams figure out  which independent media practitioners they ought to be granting access to on a regular basis. 

It's tough not to be a little bewildered too, as the NHL has been very good to me in this regard.  It credentialed me on two separate ocassions: first at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus and then again for the 2009 NHL Winter Classic in Chicago.  Even though I was representing FanHouse at both of those events, my credential was issued as if I was representing Off Wing Opinion.

If there's one emotion I'm not feeling at all, it's anger.  Even today, in 2010, not everyone reads blogs and not everyone fully understands the value of engaging with independent online media.  And in any case, getting angry won't help anybody, but constructive criticism just might. 

Trust me on this.  Because before I got to my final cut on the media credential guidelines, somebody over at SportsJournalists.com posted my first draft in a discussion string over there.  While it's safe to say that most of the peanut gallery there was less than friendly, you better believe I paid attention to what they had to say.  In the end, it helped me improve the final draft in many important ways.  I'm sure the folks at the NHL, many of whom monitor online chatter very closely, will take a look at what the online community has to say and take it into account when devising their own policy.

I do have a message for independent bloggers who have been watching this episode with growing alarm.  Your credibility is based on the trust you build with your readers everyday, not whether or not you have a laminated plastic badge hanging around your neck.  If you follow your passion and develop an audience, there will come a time when the powers that be have little choice but to let you inside the gate, if that's what you really want.

Time, as they say, and for many of my blogging colleagues in their 20s this is especially the case, is on your side.

Even though the folks at SB Nation have an economic incentive to preserve my old work, I can't help but say thank you.  Sure, they're acting in their own self-interest, but given the actions of some of their competitors, it's an enlightened self-interest.

While I was happy to answer his questions, I also told him that any story about the press box in Washington wouldn't be complete without talking to Nate Ewell with the Caps.  Jason got in touch with Nate too.  Click here to read the result.

While there isn't much new there for long-time readers of Off Wing Opinion, I think it still provides a nice roadmap for less experienced bloggers who are thinking about taking a shot at asking for a press pass.  And as I've said more times than I can count, if you think you'd like to do it, take a shot.

Who will win the 2010 Stanley Cup?

Chicago Blackhawks -275

Philadelphia Flyers +225

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Exact Series Result

Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 6/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 3/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 4/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 7/2

Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 25/1

Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 14/1

Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 7/1

Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 7/1

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Total Games in Series

Over 5.5 Games -160

Under 5.5 Games +130

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Exact Number of Games in Series

4 11/2

5 9/4

6 11/5

7 11/5

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Series Game Spread

Chicago Blackhawks -1½ (-150)

Philadelphia Flyers +1½ (+120)

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Total Goals In Series

Over/Under 32.5 Goals

Who will win the 2010 Stanley Cup Conn Smythe Trophy?

Jonathan Toews (CHI) 1/2

Antti Niemi (CHI) 5/1

Mike Richards (PHI) 7/1

Michael Leighton (PHI) 8/1

Patrick Kane (CHI) 19/2

Danny Briere (PHI) 18/1

Simon Gagne (PHI) 20/1

Chris Pronger (PHI) 25/1

Patrick Sharp (CHI) 28/1

Marian Hossa (CHI) 30/1

Dustin Byfuglien (CHI) 33/1

Field (Any Other Player) 22/1

Will a player from the losing team in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals be awarded the 2010 Conn Smyth Trophy?

Yes +1000

No -2000

Will there be a 5 minute fighting major penalty called during the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals?

Yes +195

No -250

Who will record more shutouts during the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals?

Michael Leighton +120

Antti Niemi -150

Who will a better Save % in the Series?

Michael Leighton +115

Antti Niemi -145

Jonathan Toews Total Points in 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Over / Under 6.5

Patrick Kane Total Points in 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Over / Under 6.5

Patrick Sharp Total Points in 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Over / Under 5

Marian Hossa Total Points in 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Over / Under 5

Dustin Byfuglien Total Points in 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Over / Under 3.5

Mike Richards Total Points in 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Over / Under 5.5

Danny Briere Total Points in 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Over / Under 5

Claude Giroux Total Points in 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Over / Under 4.5

Chris Pronger Total Points in 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Over / Under 4

Simon Gagne Total Points in 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Over / Under 4.5

Thinking out loud on Facebook, those two friends spent some time cursing the front office in Tampa for stealing their hero, and lamenting his departure.  Well, to both of them and any other Red Wings faithful who may be listening, I say this: dry your tears and do not despair.  Eventually, perhaps sooner than you think, the prodigal son will return older and most definitely wiser to run the team you love so much.

How can I be so sure?  Like it or not, current Red Wings GM Ken Holland isn't going anywhere anytime soon and nor should he.  The team has been to the Finals four times under Holland and won three Cups.  At age 54, he's not young anymore, but he's not exactly old either, and probably has at least one Stanley Cup left to win, if not more, before he finally retires.

On the other hand you have Yzerman, who quite frankly, has probably learned all he can after working for almost the last four years under Holland.  He's been GM of Team Canada twice, once at the 2007 IIHF World Championships and once at the 2010 Winter Olympics.  I don't think I have to remind you that Team Canada won both tournaments.

So, after 27 years with the Red Wings, there are simply no worlds left to conquer for Yzerman in Detroit.  It's clear that he wants to build a team of his own, and he's earned that chance.  And with the Lightning, it's a heck of a chance.  It's a team that boasts Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Steve Stamkos, Ryan Malone and Victor Hedman.  That's a core of talent that plenty of other GMs would like to be able to count on.  With Yzerman at the helm, who knows what other assets he might be able to import if he decides he wants to rearrange the deck?

Even better, the Lightning are a team without a coach, which gives Yzerman another chance to put a unique stamp on this team.  Toss in the fact that the Lightning will be starting next season with a new ownership group after the disastrous Len Barrie/Oren Koules regime, and there isn't a blanker slate to work with in the entire NHL.

As a fan of the Washington Capitals, I'm sure that the front office here understands that the Lightning aren't a laughing stock anymore now that Yzerman is running things.  With all the chaos that's taken place in Tampa in recent years, it's easy to forget that only four wins stood between the Lightning and the playoffs this season.  To make up that gap, Yzerman has to get the team one extra win every about six weeks between October and April.  I'm betting that he'll find a way, and the Lightning will be back in the playoffs.

I'm having a hard time imagining a better job for a first time GM.  In short, Yzerman will kill in this job, and prove that he has the chops to run his own organization.  And after anywhere between 5-7 seasons, after he's pulled the Lightning out of their six-year long funk, I don't doubt that Holland will decide that it's time to step aside.  And when that moment comes, Yzerman will be on the top of the Mike Illitch interview list.

So cry if you must, Detroit fans.  But it's time for Mr. Yzerman to run his own show before he'll be ready to run yours.  No worries, eventually, everyone will be the better for it.

There are other examples, but I'm sure you get the idea.  But today, I'm going to suggest that it's time for the NHL to do the stealing, this time making off with a heist from professional tennis:

Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, will provide a portion of its advertising inventory to Google TV Ads' system, effective immediately. The arrangement makes the network the first single-sport channel inventory partner of the three-year-old online-based television platform.

Tennis Channel will have the opportunity to develop new business through Google TV Ads' extensive client base and take part in the system's unique auction setup. Google's system makes the advertising inventory across more than 98 networks available to media buyers who are able to build national TV campaigns and track highly targeted ads right from their computers. Additionally, Google TV Ads offers second-by-second measurement and data, which Tennis Channel will apply to its ad sales efforts.

If you're a hockey fan who has access to the NHL Network, I think you know what I'm getting at here.  If you even watch just 30 minutes during the day, you'll inevitably be exposed to what seems like an endless loop of network and league promos.  Every cable network runs them, but it isn't too hard to notice that the NHL Network runs them a lot more often than many of their counterparts.

There's only one reason why that's the case, and that's because there's a lot of ad inventory on the network that goes unsold.  That shouldn't be a shock during a period of severe economic contraction, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do all you can to generate some sort of return on that unsold inventory, and it would seem like working with Google TV Ads would be a good idea to get that done.

Odds to win the Stanley Cup

San Jose Sharks 3/2

Chicago Blackhawks 8/5

Philadelphia Flyers 9/2

Montreal Canadiens 9/2

NHL CONFERENCE FINALS SERIES PRICES

Montreal Canadiens Even

Philadelphia Flyers -130

NHL CONFERENCE FINALS SERIES PRICES

Chicago Blackhawks -105

San Jose Sharks -115

Canadiens vs. Flyers

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Exact Series Result

Montreal Canadiens 4-0 11/1

Montreal Canadiens 4-1 13/2

Montreal Canadiens 4-2 4/1

Montreal Canadiens 4-3 5/1

Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 12/1

Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 6/1

Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 11/2

Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 4/1

Total Game in Series

Over 5.5 -200

Under 5.5 +160

Exact Number of Games in Series

4 6/1

5 11/4

6 9/5

7 9/5

Series Game Spread

Montreal Canadiens -1.5 +185

Philadelphia Flyers +1.5 -225

Mike Richards 3rd Round Points vs. Montreal Canadiens

Over / Under 5

Chris Pronger 3rd Round Points vs. Montreal Canadiens

Over / Under 4

Tomas Plekanec 3rd Round Points vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Over / Under 4.5

Scott Gomez 3rd Round Points vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Over / Under 4.5

Blackhawks vs. Sharks

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Exact Series Result

San Jose Sharks 4-0 12/1

San Jose Sharks 4-1 11/2

San Jose Sharks 4-2 5/1

San Jose Sharks 4-3 4/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 11/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 6/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 4/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 5/1

Total Game in Series

Over 5.5 -205

Under 5.5 +165

Exact Number of Games in Series

4 6/1

5 11/4

6 9/5

7 9/5

Series Game Spread

San Jose Sharks -1.5 +185

Chicago Blackhawks +1.5 -225

Joe Thornton 3rd Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Over / Under 6.5

Patrick Marleau 3rd Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Over / Under 5.5

Dany Heatley 3rd Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Over / Under 5.5

Patrick Kane 3rd Round Points vs. San Jose Sharks

Over / Under 6.5

Jonathan Toews 3rd Round Points vs. San Jose Sharks

Over / Under 6

Marion Hossa 3rd Round Points vs. San Jose Sharks

Over / Under 5

Chicago Blackhawks Even

San Jose Sharks -130

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Exact Series Result

San Jose Sharks 4-0 12/1

San Jose Sharks 4-1 11/2

San Jose Sharks 4-2 5/1

San Jose Sharks 4-3 4/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 11/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 6/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 4/1

Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 5/1

Total Game in Series

Over 5.5 -205

Under 5.5 +165

Exact Number of Games in Series

4 6/1

5 11/4

6 9/5

7 9/5

Where will the Series be Decided

HP Pavilion, San Jose -150

United Center, Chicago +120

Series Game Spread

San Jose Sharks -1.5 +185

Chicago Blackhawks +1.5 -225

Joe Thornton 3rd Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Over / Under 6.5

Patrick Marleau 3rd Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Over / Under 5.5

Dany Heatley 3rd Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Over / Under 5.5

Patrick Kane 3rd Round Points vs. San Jose Sharks

Over / Under 6.5

Jonathan Toews 3rd Round Points vs. San Jose Sharks

Over / Under 6

Marion Hossa 3rd Round Points vs. San Jose Sharks

Over / Under 5