To Damieux's point, hockey really fucked up. The die-hard fans will flock back, but the casual fans (which I wouldn't be surprised if constituted the majority of the people that go to games, buy jerseys, etc.) for the most part, stopped caring. Granted, my information is anectotal since it's gathered from the dozen or so buddies of mine who are sports fans.

For a sports league to survive fiscally, it's got to get the casual fan to buy tickets, paraphernalia and such. It needs fresh blood. And each time the NHL starts to catch on big here in the US it shoots itself in the foot.

I'm at the point where if hockey died, I'd be fine with it.