The NHL is Back

The NHL is Back

During the NHL lock out I was sure that I would not watch the games if they came back this year.  It will have to bee seen how many people will not come back.  I am pretty sure that a lot of the fans will come back and watch.  The Owners and the Players got things done just in time to do a 48 game season in 99 days.  That will make for a very exciting season of almost playoff Hockey every game to be followed by the actual playoffs which will be as exciting as they usually are.

The start of the abbreviated season came at just the right time for me.  The College Football Season is over.  For me the NFL is done since my team is out of the playoffs.  It is almost as if all this was timed just right to get a big push of attention for the NHL.

If the NHL  can pull this off will they be able to minimize the damage from their most recent work stoppage ?  I think for the hard core Hockey fan just the fact that they came back this year they have already reeled them back in.  The bigger problem for them will be can they attract new fans.  Part of the problem they did not fix.  It is hard to find Hockey games anymore even when they are playing.  NBC is starting out strong on the first day but they really should have tried to show more games across all their networks.  This was probably not possible.  But really if the NHL wants to pull fans back and grow the fan base they have to make the games accessible to the masses.  Other than is localized areas this has not been done since the last lock out and ESPN did not want the NHL back.

This all is on the NHL and the NHLPA.  What about you?  Will you watch or are you done with the NHL?