The biggest thing that the NHL has working against it is the marketing. Instead of making people want to learn about the game, they try playing to the wrong things. That's why the Fox puck failed. It angered the purists and directed attention away from the action. ESPN's John Buccigross recently said:

"You can't see the puck? Can you see a baseball being hit? How often do you see the football on TV? Can you see when Tiger Woods hits the golf ball outside of the short game? If you are simply trying to follow the puck when you watch a hockey game, you're missing the game."

HD could put the NHL up to where it wants to be. I have known so many people who wouldn't watch it on TV, but went to a game and loved it. Now they just need to market it properly.