The Hockey Stop

Forget football. Spring is the best season for sports fans. We just wrapped up the most exciting March Madness in recent memory (thanks VCU and Butler) and now we have the NHL and NBA playoffs to look forward to. Plus, MLB baseball and MLS soccer have started up.

So, while the NFL heads to court tomorrow, there are so many reminders of how blessed we are as Americans to be able to enjoy so many other professional sports that aren't currently going through a labor dispute. Here in Washington, the city is buzzing about the Capitals' chance at playoff redemption. In Baltimore they are going batty over the undefeated Orioles. In Denver they love their defending MLS champion Colorado Rapids. And in Los Angeles they are dreaming of another NBA championship for their Lakers.

The trees are blooming. The weather is warmer. The grass is greener. And we have hockey, basketball, baseball and soccer all at the same time. Sorry, football, but we are moving on.

The National Hockey League and every other professional sports league that has played second fiddle to the National Football League will benefit from a canceled season. In addition to the NHL, other leagues that will surely gain more media and fan attention will be Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association (although they have lockout concerns of their own coming up), Major League Soccer and NASCAR.

There are also many fans who will simply give up the couch on Sundays and discover other activities like going for a bike ride, visiting a museum or attending church.

I believe I've seen a preview of this already here in Washington. There are still many misguided people who cling to the Washington football franchise (I will not publish what I believe to be the racist name of the team) and will probably still be wearing Burgundy and Gold hats and jackets even if the season is lost. However, I've seen an increase in Washington football team fans at the Verizon Center cheering on the Capitals this season. Expect attendance and TV ratings to increase at hockey arenas across the country as disgruntled football fans discover other ways to spend their hard-earned money.

While all other sports will benefit from an NFL work stoppage, the NHL in particular is poised to bring in a lot of new fans. That's because hockey most closely matches the team physicality of the NFL. Those fans missing QB sacks and hard-nosed tackles will enjoy the intense body checks and fighting in hockey.

And as far as the economic factor is concerned, the money not spent at NFL stadiums and on NFL merchandise will be redistributed to other sectors of the economy.

So for all those Washington football team fans, ditch the R******s and instead Rock the Red at a Caps game!

The National Hockey League lags behind baseball, football and basketball when it comes to television ratings and national attention, however, when it comes to ESPN The Magazine's seventh annual Ultimate Standings, the fastest sport in the world simply dominates.

Many hockey fans will be pleasantly surprised as they read the latest issue of "The Mag," which hit newsstands on July 13. That's because five of the top 10 teams are from the NHL out of 122 professional franchises ranked from the NHL, MLB, NFL and NBA.

The teams are ranked based on eight major categories -- wins vs. ticket prices, fan relations, ownership, stadium experience, players, coaching and championships won or soon to be won.

The Carolina Hurricanes (2), Detroit Red Wings (4), Washington Capitals (6), Pittsburgh Penguins (8) and St. Louis Blues (10) are the five teams in the top 10. The Anaheim Ducks are ranked 11th.

There are only two NHL teams in the bottom 10 -- the New York Islanders (115) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (120).

The Islanders should be able to reverse their fortunes by recently signing No. 1 draft pick John Tavares to a 3-year deal and starting construction soon on their new arena, dubbed "The Lighthouse Project."

As for long-suffering Leafs fans? Maybe new president and GM Brian Burke can help bring the team back to its glory days just like he brought a Stanley Cup to Anaheim as GM of the Ducks.

Getting to the playoffs would be a nice start. While the Leafs haven't won a Stanley Cup in 41 plus years, it's been four years since they skated into the postseason.