"A decade ago the NHL was considered a rising hot property in the U.S. sports market. The 1994 Stanley Cup finals between the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks was one of the most exciting and memorable in NHL history and was cited as one of the biggest sporting events of that year.
The on-ice product was never better, a perfect balance of high-octane offense and skilled defense. Attendance was healthy and growing, while television viewership was on the rise, leading to a lucrative deal with Fox. The league was well into its plans to expand to what they believed were untapped markets in the southern United States.
Indeed, the future looked so bright that Sports Illustrated actually suggested the NHL was better than the National Basketball Association.
What a difference 10 years can make."
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2687502