You say that all the big names and arenas are in NA.
You are right at the moment. But since Europe can pay our soccerstars ALOT more than any NHL-player earns I bet that if hockey got more popular in countries like France, Germany and England we could start a League that could be better than the NHL for the european stars.
Yes I know all canadian hockeyplayers dream is to win the Stanley cup but the other players?
But until that time comes I'd love to see the NHL start again.