Kevin Baumer at the Sports Page echoes an argument we’ve been making for months: 2011 is the NHL’s big chance.
The league couldn’t have picked a better time to find success. With labor situations uncertain for the NBA and NFL in 2011, the NHL may have the rare opportunity to corner the professional sports market from the end of baseball season in late fall until spring training next year.
Things will only continue to improve. The Winter Classic was a huge success. A new TV rights deal is in the works, and there’s a new content head. Labor strife is a thing of the past.
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If the NHL can’t take advantage of the momentum – and the possible loss of part or all of the NBA and/or NFL seasons – there’s no hope for the sport in America anyway.