The problem the NHL has is that most of their franchises are in the United States, which, for the most part, doesn't give a **** about hockey. I think the rule changes enacted four years ago could have created more appeal for the average sports fan, but unfortunately, the average sports fan in the U.S. doesn't even know the NHL exists because all the games are on Versus, which nobody gets. We're in the conference finals of the playoffs and most of the games are still on Versus, if they're on at all. Some of my fondest memories growing up were staying up til 3 in the morning to watch Steve Levy call a 5OT playoff game on ESPN2. Those are pretty distant memories at this point. It's true that the lockout was a huge blow to the sport, but if they had shoved their ego and renegotiated the TV contract with ESPN, the country would have forgiven them.
It should be painfully obvious to the NHL, now, though, that they will never, ever, ever, ever surpass the NFL, NBA, or MLB in this country. It just won't happen. So I agree with the original poster's idea that the best way for the NHL to evolve is to contract, not expand.
There's no reason to have to eliminate St. Louis or San Jose, both of which are successful and important franchises. I'm not sure why the original poster has Toronto in the west, I'd move them to the East (where they are now). That'd give one division from each conference seven teams, and then San Jose could fill that other slot in the West. Other than that I really like that setup. I'd also like to see the two-line-pass rule changed back to be illegal, and to eliminate the shootout and go back to the W/L/T format. As stated before, it's painfully obvious those rule changes didn't create any broader appeal, and it's time for the NHL to reappeal to their base. I think both those rules are kind of gimmicky, so I'd like to see them go.
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