You can only blame the Devils partially for that. I blame over expansion for putting too many unskilled players in the leauge. Let's face it, its easier to play positional hockey (the trap) then to turn fringe players into skilled scoring machines capabale of zooming up and down the ice ala the 80's Oilers. I also blame scouts for having a bizarre obsession with huge players that take up too much space on the ice.
*insert Vince McMahon joke*
I have to agree with Olympic on this one. Expansion killed the league. If anything there should only be one team in Florida, Carolina should not have a team, neither should Atlanta, San Jose, Anaheim, Nashville, Phoenix and Dallas.
I would say Columbus, but I am pretty surprised on how popular the sport is in the area, and the fans are pretty supportive.
Minnesota should always have a Hockey team, its basically Canada's province, thats not a province. The fans are loyal, and Mr. Bettman putting a team there was a smart move.
What they should do is move the goal line back two inches, so there is less space behind the net, and a bigger offensive zone to attack, and only a skill-ful team that can use the trap (New Jersey) and not just 2/3 of the league
I'm not disagreement about expansion hurting the league. Just saying the trap style of play is a factor has well.
Oh, and don't insult Minnesota like that.