from Terry Frrei of the Denver Post,

The frequently heard remark has been that the NHL is relevant in Denver again. I don't agree with that. The NHL never became irrelevant in Denver in the past 10 years. Too often, that alleged irrelevance became rationalization for inattention from some segments of the media.

The fan base, nurtured during the franchise glory years, is larger than ever. High regular ticket prices, televised home games and disaffection combined to keep thousands of seats empty on hockey nights at the Pepsi Center. That still was the case for the Avalanche's second home victory, over Nashville, after the sold-out opening night.

Those fans still are out there. They'll come back. And if this keeps up, many general sports fans will climb aboard the bandwagon too.

Despite the proprietary attitude of some of the sport's stubborn loyalists, there's nothing wrong with embracing "new" or "returned" fans — unless they spend the whole game annoyingly asking in the arena or the bar why Peter Forsberg hasn't been on the ice yet.

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