There are reasons the NHL isn't more popular, but that has *nothing* to do with it. Yeah I really don't think a few goons give the NHL a bad name. There are just too many people who aren't exposed to the sport when they are young and then decide that they "hate" it and won't give it a chance. I agree that the TV contract is bad. Going back to ESPN would give the league back a lot of cred. It seemed like ESPN and ESPN2 had games on 4-5 times/week in the mid-to-late 90s. That was awesome. The league is fine in places where it should be. Those Sun Belt teams can rot as far as I'm concerned. Move those teams to Winnipeg, Quebec, Hamilton, perhaps Seattle. Contract a few teams. That would be a good start. When I watch random games on Center Ice, I will watch the Canadian teams first every time.