NHL: THINKING OUTSIDE THE UNBOX

Amazon.com has an interesting new service called UNBOX that offers digital video downloads and 24 hour rentals, similar to iTunes, and you can watch them on your computer, TiVo or compatible device (and of course, the iPod is not one of them). Along with the usual titles, I noticed that the NHL has a number of things available including a few classic NHL games. Right now they only have 14, but there are some great games in there:

Philadelphia Flyers at Detroit Red Wings, 1997 06/07/1997
New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers, 1994 05/26/1994
Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins, 1992 05/27/1992
Pittsburgh Penguins at Minnesota North Stars, 1991 05/26/1991
Calgary Flames at Montreal Canadiens, 1989 05/26/1989
Philadelphia Flyers at Edmonton Oilers, 1987 06/01/1987
Quebec Nordiques at Montreal Canadiens, 1985 05/03/1985
New York Rangers at New York Islanders, 1984 04/11/1984
Philadelphia Flyers at New York Islanders, 1980 05/25/1980
Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens, 1979 05/11/1979
Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins, 1977 05/15/1977
Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres, 1975 05/28/1975
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens, 1967 05/03/1967
Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Red Wings, 1964 04/24/1964

Most of the above games are Cup clinching games, or pivotal conference matchups. I don't know if I would spend $3 to have a digital copy of the Devils/Rangers Game 6 from 1994 (couldn't they include just one Devils win???), but it's an interesting idea.

I know the NHL is trying their darnedest to market the sport. I don't think they should be charging extra for this year's playoffs, but hey I'm not the commissioner.