We have a new Stanley Cup winner, the Detroit Red Wings. This is a great team with the best record in the league in the regular season and winner of the Cup. Congratulations to everyone in the Red Wings family.

The Pittsburgh Penguins also have a lot to be proud of. They have gone from a team in bankruptcy with really bad attendance mired in the bottom of the standings to being a great team with lots of young stars playing in the Stanley Cup Finals before sold out crowds every night. And they will move into a new mega building in two years. What a great turnaround story for the Penguins.

The NHL had a great year. Can you name me one other media oriented company that can say they grew and grew fast across the board in terms of:

Ratings – both nationally and locally;

Season ticket renewals and season ticket sales;

Overall ticket sales;

Overall ticket pricing;

Merchandising sales;

Sponsorship sales;

And revenues?

The salary cap will move up again as the players share in more than half of the revenues so the players are happy.

For the most part, the product has improved.

Great stars including our own players on the Washington Capitals have emerged as the new face of the NHL.

The future looks bright. Embrace these times.

And now we go to the NHL Awards ceremony in Toronto next week; then to the NHL draft; then to rookie camp; then to training camp; and then a new season will be upon us before we know it!