I'd make the case that the sport was better off before the pursuit of national TV revenue drove a number of decisions that were idiotic by any objective measure. Perfect case in point: moving teams Quebec City, Winnipeg and Hartford to Denver, Phoenix and Raleigh. The league's core strategy over the last 25 years has been to expand into markets with large populations and almost zero fan interest -- for the sole purpose of establishing a national footprint for TV coverage. That's a disaster in the making, and the number of financially struggling franchises in southern U.S. markets (Phoenix, Carolina, Florida, etc.) would confirm that.
How many people are going to see a hypothetical Stanley Cup finals matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators? That series would probably have fewer viewers than they'd get for a matchup between Chicago and Montreal -- even without a national TV contract here in the U.S.
The league wasn’t really trying to make those teams move. Betman put in a lot of effort to keep Winnipeg, he was on the phone trying to get a stadium deal while they were packing. Hartford was playing in a mall, that needed to change, nobody’s fault but theirs that change involved a move. The teams that are struggling are the teams that stink, they can’t keep the fan engagement. Those teams are finishing under 500 most of the time, out of the playoff hunt by the All Star break. Edmonton and Calgary went through similar eras and had similar attendance problems. Nobody wants to pay money to watch their team get their asses kicked. The southward teams that put a quality team on the ice (San Jose, Kings, Nashville) make money.
The “big city” bounce for NHL playoffs is minimal. And without a national TV contract NOBODY outside of Chicago and Montreal watches, so there is no possible way that would get more viewers.