The Fans Care NHL: Hockey Fan Strength is Stronger and Better this 2007-2008 Season

As the lockout happened two seasons ago, it was predicted by non-hockey fans that hockey fans would lose tons and tons of avid fans. Whether it was a general hockey fan, or if it was a local hockey fan. The NHL was going to lose them.

Two seasons pass by, and the NHL fan strength is stronger and better this season as it was last season. Although being on the Versus Network, and getting criticism, the NHL still grows as a whole. The salary cap has gone up again, for this season. A new logo to start the season two seasons ago, and now, new uniforms, new logos, and new players to look out (check out 30 Young Guns to Watch).

I, as a hockey fan was more than glad that ESPN did not renew its deal with the NHL in the 2004-05 seasons, during the lockout. I constantly here from writers, journalists, and fans from message boards that the NHL desperately needs ESPN, because they have weak broadcasting from the Versus Network.

That is not true, if anyone has watched the broadcasting and analysis from the Versus Network, it's not great, but it's at least ten times better than what was being said on ESPN. ESPN continued to ignore then NHL and now the NHL is booming in all 24 American NHL cities (Canadian hockey is not the problem). ESPN continued to poke fun at the game on ice, and eventually the NHL got a better station (VERSUS) and a better national broadcast. The NHL can survive without ESPN, and ESPN will regret it.

ESPN has two main people that are suffering without the NHL, and those two people need to get out of there, and head to VERSUS where they will be getting proper treatment. The talents of these two individuals is going to waste. The NHL must ensure fans that the NHL does not need ESPN. The NHL is more than happy with VERSUS and the NBC.

The NHL is struggling in ratings for the national broadcasts, but they more than make up for it for the local ratings. This league is constantly considered a joke among the four major sports in the USA. But in reality, the NHL is more real, and has more marketable players (check out NHL Players; like me and you).

If you watch a local broadcast of a game, you can tell that there is more electricity, and excitement in the air at an arena. Attendance is up in a whole in all 30 NHL clubs, and revenue is up also. The NHL is not in trouble, and it has to do a lot with the wholesome image of the players.

This had to with the new uniforms, which look a lot sleeker and more fashionable. The new logos that look really good and sharp, and more marketable. If no one has noticed this, then they must be watching the New York Yankees self-imploding in the playoffs, again. Again though, a lot of shows have been poking fun at the NHL, and yet it's the most exciting game on ice and this world.

Nothing is faster, nothing is more intense, and nothing is more fun to go to, than an NHL game. Whether you were talking to a Montreal Canadiens fan, or Boston Bruins fan, or a Minnesota Wild fan, we can all get along, even though we cannot get along on the ice. For the good of the game, we are one.

Whether it's a small network deal, or weak national ratings, the constant disrespect, the lack of knowledge of hockey, the mocking, the arrogance from other people, we as hockey fans are one, and will continue to backup our sport, as we love this game, and always will. No one can take it away, whether they write, say or draw something about hockey. The line is divided, and hockey fans are together, we are a family, and we will not let anyone disrespect our sport, as it provides everything.

Lord Stanley proves it all. We are one.