The NHL opens its 2005-06 regular season tonight with all 30 teams playing in their first game since the league became the first major professional sports league to cancel a complete season because of a nasty labour conflict. We now have a brand new economic landscape with a $39 million salary cap for each team and what looks like a bit more parity during the most recent free-agent season. The league will also be enforcing a new set of rules (or a better adherence to what's long been in the rule book) that may lead to a long parade to the penalty box if the the players do not adjust. The rules will likley help some of the talented players like Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Jerome Iginla and Joe Thornton. Super rookies like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin will have ample opportunities to showcase their talents and are likely to succeed.

There is also an unknown with the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) taking over the national broadcasting rights in the United States from ESPN. This relationship was clearly based on monetary terms with both entities hoping to gain viewership. We know that the hard core hockey fans in Canada and certain pockets within the United States will be back. But the question still remains as to whether the NHL can attract the average fan back to the game, especially in markets like Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville and Raleigh. The hockey gurus have put in their predictions on who may win the Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers appearing as the most common favourites.

As an ardent hockey fan and observer, I can honestly say that I too am looking forward to the start of this season. My hope though is that the league, owners and players have learned some important lessons from the lockout and the lost season. Fans will give these stakeholders an ample opportunity to win them back, but any ill-conceived moves could lead to a lot of damage.