The NHL has a serious problem that they themselves created.

Since its 2005 labor issue, the NHL’s popularity plummeted.  When the NHL returned to the regular season, it came back to television on VS and NBC instead of ESPN.  VS – REALLY – a major sports league wants its games played on a channel which specializes in hunting and bull riding.  The NHL should have done whatever it takes to stay on ESPN.  REALLY – ESPN is.  It is – REALLY. For sports, clearly, ESPN is.  It is money, fame, recognition, fresh, popularity, hip, always on.  It is good business.

SERIOUSLY – who made the decision to put a critical Stanley Cup clinching game the same night as the NBA finals?  If you are trying to grow your sport’s popularity, why would you put your biggest stage on the same night as Kobe Bryant?  SERIOUSLY – that’s just bad business development.  All the advertisers and major sponsors are heading to ABC, home of the NBA Finals (and LOST), not NBC, home of “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here”.

I mean, C’MON, this ignorance deprives people of seeing a beautiful, fast, action-filled sport with young stars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Pavel Datsyuk.  Hockey combines speed and hitting and slick passes with 100 mph slap shots.  How can you not like a sport where there are penalties for slashing, boarding, and fighting – C’MON!!!!!!!