But they have been quite impressive, especially given how tough the Western Conference is. The NHL likely will never go to Hartford again. The next city that might get a team will be Portland. The NHL is far more inclined to go into markets that provide a bigger TV bump. The lack of wide-open games doesn't deal much with the ice surface.
Coaches nowadays preach defense first.
But most of us would agree with you that we need a wider-open offense. Everyone I've talked to says how well he is playing. The Flyers are a good team, but they need LeClair. They showed last season they can play without Lindros, but they should trade him quickly and get a good asset in return. Is Lou Lamerillo unrealistic in his dealings with his players or is his tough negotiating stance the way the rest of the league needs to act to preserve the future of the league.