You wouldn't know a good sport if it kicked you in the ass.
Aside from long-time fans in the original four US markets, I honestly don't know why the NHL has let itself get so bad trying to appeal to non-hockey people like yourself. The NHL will never be the NFL, NBA or MLB and that's a good thing.
Columbus, Nashville, Anaheim, Tampa Bay, Florida and Atlanta should all be folded and the players dispersed to the remaining clubs. First dibs on Paul Kariya and Ilya Kolvachuk! :-)