With hockey on thin ice in the North America, especially following the crippling strike during the 2004-05 season, a new league has risen in Russia to replace the Russian Super League, the Continental Hockey League.

The Continental Hockey League the league does not sound nearly as imposing. The KHL sounds more like a minor league hockey league sporting teams in Omaha, Rockford and whatever Midwestern city they can find where there is nothing to do on a Friday night. If the organizers in Russia really wanted to challenge the National Hockey League for world domination they should have chosen a more hyperbolic name, like the Super-Duper Russian Hockey Supreme Empire League.

No, the league has already tried to poach NHL stars from the homeland like Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The overwhelming response has been to dismiss the new league. The NHL still has the best players in the world and does not appear to be giving up any time soon.

The NHL is safe as long fans of teams like the New Jersey Devils are still around. Go to any game against the New York Rangers or the Philadelphia Flyers and see if you can find an unused seat. The spirit is still alive in the true hockey fans. Even with hockey having problems finding new fans and networks to carry the television contracts hockey is far from over here across the Atlantic.

The original six are still around, the Prudential Center is still open during the winter, and fans are ready to forgive the league for being too greedy.