Speaking of ESPN content poobah John Skipper, he reiterated in Bristol a couple of weeks back what he had told me earlier: That the Worldwide Leader potentially does have interest in bringing back the NHL in 2008-09 - IF it becomes available.
For now Versus has the exclusive cable rights to the league, but there have been whispers it might be willing to negotiate that exclusivity away, opening the door for games on ESPN and helping promote the sport in general and by osmosis on Versus as well.
That would be a good thing for the league and hockey fans.