3. Success
It took years for Gretzky to win the Stanley Cup and start a dynasty in Edmonton. It took years for Mario Lemieux to lead the Penguins to consecutive Cups. Same with the Islanders and their superstars, Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier and Denis Potvin.

The Penguins won't win the Cup next season, and it could be a couple more years before they do. But image the juice the NHL will get when its young superstar lifts the Cup for the first time. It would be best for the Pens to win within three years.

The talent is there, and must be supplemented. That means Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury and other Penguins pups must continue to elevate their game. The Penguins are a talented collection of young men who have room to mature. Nurture that development, and success will follow.

The same is true for other teams as well. Look at the Ducks; Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Dustin Penner are anything but grizzled old veterans and certainly not mind-numbing plumbers and grinders. The Ducks will continue to be a power.

Nothing draws admiration like success.

4. Buzz
The NHL's greatest crying need is attention out of its traditional markets. Without plunging into schlock, the NHL must make Crosby into a guy casual fans can identify. It's tough for one player to do this. Gretzky could; Crosby can. But he'll need a load of selfless support from his teammates.

It won't be easy, but it is possible.

This is the dawn of a new era for the NHL. Distractions must be avoided, a time of labor peace is mandatory and most of all, NHL players must avoid inflicting damage on their reputations. No more Dany Heatley crashes; no black marks from drug or alcohol incidents, or highly publicized domestic crises.

Don't limit the push to NHL markets. The league must leverage its publicity by looping in the AHL and ECHL, its primary farm system for talent. All three leagues will benefit.

And it certainly doesn't need any more television trouble. Technical difficulties prevented Versus from showing the awards show. The TV issue continues to be the most contentious matter for U.S. fans.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Baseball cover up, NBA faux pas, tennis nap, and more. more photos

Give Crosby and his young cohorts a say in creating buzz. After all, Crosby is the young star and can better relate to his generation than any old guys on the Board of Governors or in NHL headquarters.

One more thing: Don't force it. Creating buzz for the NHL isn't a matter of loading a cannon and spraying puck pieces across the atmosphere. Fans don't want anything crammed down their throats.

Sidney Crosby is the next one. The next step is up to the NHL.

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