What the NHL Needs

Los Angeles and New York

There is no doubt that both the Phoenix and Coyotes and New Jersey Devils are great hockey teams that can win the Stanley Cup. However, when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman sits back in his chair and thinks, only one thing comes to mind. The cities of Los Angeles and New York. Two monster cities that never sleep, two teams that have huge amounts of fans, and due to those factors, huge money and exposure.

It is still unknown whether the New York Rangers will move onto the Eastern Conference Finals to play the Devils. The Washington Capitals have not been counted out and if the puck drops their way, can move on just as easily. If the Rangers do advance, there will be plenty of people at the NHL praying for the final they've been waiting years for. It would be the first time in a long time, especially since the lockout, that two NHL powerhouse cities meet for a date with the Cup.

The Coyotes and Devils are both great teams and have deserved every step they have taken so far. However, the matchup just does not have the same zing to it. Home attendence for both teams was poor the entire season. The Coyotes ranked dead last in the league with just over 12,000 fans a game. The Devils didn't do much better, finishing 24th in the league with just over 15,000 fans per game. Both offenses rank in the second half of the league with the Devils at 15th in the league and the Coyotes at 18th. Their defenses also rank in the top 10 in the league, the Coyotes being as good as 5th in the league. They also both have a few great household names, but nothing comparable to the Kings and Rangers. In fact, the biggest name between both teams would be Devils captain Zach Parise, who is about to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and is surrounded by speculation where he will end up.

If the Rangers and Kings were to end up in the final, Los Angeles and New York media would eat it up, making hockey top stories night in and night out. They boast some of the best names in the league on offense with the Kings Mike Richards, Anze Kopitar, and Jeff Carter compared to the Rangers Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, and Ryan Callahan. Also, the most interesting factor would be the goalie matchup between the top two Vezina candidates. Quick and Lundqvist have been putting up miraculous numbers all playoffs. Not to mention the television coverage that each city would bring. NBC would probably see record numbers in terms of television viewers. The NHL would once again get back on the map, hopefully attracting the viewers that some of the other major sports in the United States bring in. 

Whatever happens, happens. However, when it comes down to the knitty gritty, the NHL wants to see the Kings and Rangers face off in the finals. It would be a 8 seed versus a 1 seed and both cities would bring in huge amounts of fans, media, and revenue. The NHL would reap the benefits on all sides.