ALL OF A SUDDEN HOCKEY IS WORTH CHECKING OUT AGAIN.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

It's the unforeseen benefit, the surprisingly positive result emerging from the depths of the worst player- management dispute in professional sports history.

The National Hockey League lost its entire 2004-2005 season. Locked out its players, kept arenas dark, inspired derision.

There was finger-pointing galore, frustrated fans, players, owners and media. It was all so ugly, so ominous, some wondered if the NHL would ever recover.

Only now as the league prepares to resume this season, the most extraordinary outcome seems in play - there has never been more interest in the NHL.

It's all backward. It makes almost no sense. The disheartened were expected, the casual fan lost, the game scarred and left with only its most fanatical followers.

Instead, there is a buzz about the NHL.

It has never received more attention from the media going into a season. Newspapers, sports talk shows and broadcasts all speculate on its numerous changes.

``I don't think hockey has ever enjoyed this much coverage, this early in the season,'' said Shawn Hunter, the Kings president of business operations.

From the chaos that was the prolonged collective bargaining process, came a constant stream of news stories.

Upset players, rule changes, speculation on impact of the salary cap and 24 percent cut in players' salaries, a new TV package - all kept hockey fans bustling with renewed interest.

And then came the historic free-agent signing period - two years worth of free agents up for grabs, with clubs now on equal footing to bid for their services.

Each player signed or lost made news. What happened to Kings Ziggy Palffy and Jason Allison (off to Pittsburgh and Toronto, respectively)? The Ducks signed Scott Niedermayer and re-signed Teemu Selanne? The Kings added Jeremy Roenick and brought back Luc Robitaille?

And it was the same in almost every NHL city. So much activity, so much speculation.

It's not like hockey is ready to leapfrog over one of the Big Three in popularity. There are still skeptics and those who may never give hockey a look.

Yet considering the doom and gloom forecasts for this season, the NHL could be poised for a stunningly successful year.

``We are definitely seeing the benefits of a new NHL,'' Hunter said. ``I don't think anyone anticipated that we would be this successful this early.

``We're pleased. Everyone suffered, especially the fans. I'm happiest for the fans that the games are back and there is renewed excitement. And I think the game itself will be better. In the next couple of years there will be more scoring, you'll see a faster game.''

Hunter said the Kings have already renewed 92 percent of their previous season-ticket holders, and have added approximately 1,500 new ones with more still signing up. He said their total should exceed the 2003-2004 season.

The Ducks have yet to release their season-ticket figures, but team vice president and chief marketing officer Bob Wagner said they also expect to top the previous played season at the Pond. He said the Ducks have added approximately 2,000 new season ticket holders.

``In Anaheim we get a little extra pump because Henry and Susan Samueli, who lived in Orange County, purchased the team prior to season starting,'' Wagner said. ``They own the building and the team, so there's a lot more cooperative effort between all the events happening in the building and hockey.''

Wagner said Ducks sponsorship has doubled and all of the Pond's suites are sold out.

In addition to the stream of offseason news stories, there is also simple curiosity: No major professional league has shut down for a full year and then restarted.

And because team payrolls can no longer exceed $39 million, the league appears more balanced than ever before. The Red Wings and Rangers can no longer dwarf other teams' payrolls.

Not all the stars could return to their previous teams under anything resembling their old contracts. There was unprecedented player movement.

Now almost every team in the NHL believes it has a legitimate chance at the Stanley Cup; most probably do. No one knows how this season will play out from a competitive standpoint.

There is also interest in the new rule changes, designed to speed up the game, decrease the grabbing and increase the scoring.

``It's all added excitement and anticipation for the season that I've never seen,'' Hunter said. ``You add to that the rule changes, and I think people are feeling it's going to be an exciting game and there is going to be more parity in the league.''

Hockey is big under any circumstances in Canada, and there was never any real doubt its fan base would return. But Hunter said the increased consciousness of the NHL is not simply a local phenomenon but all across the U.S.

``Our staff talks to a lot of teams,'' he said. ``There is a lot of idea exchange going on in the league, a lot of best (business) practices being discussed.

``Because everyone wants the league to come back healthy as a whole. We're hearing success stories in a lot of markets and not too many teams that are struggling. I'm sure there are a couple that will have a tougher time than others. But in general we're all benefiting from this heightened awareness.''

The new trick for the NHL is not to let it become some short-term experience, but something to build on. Teams in non-traditional markets have constantly battled to attract the casual sports fan, and out of the muck that was the last non-season appears unexpected opportunity.

``It's unfortunate the lockout happened, but a silver lining was it gave everyone in hockey - players, management and business people - an opportunity to really look at the sport,'' Wagner said. ``I think it was a wake-up call for everyone in the industry.

``We're in this for the long term. We will take advantage of this first year. We truly want to be an icon in Orange County.''

The Kings and Ducks have dressed up marketing and advertising campaigns. More effort is being made to make players and management more accessible. Hopes are high.

A miserable and embarrassing year has borne a startling side benefit: A new buzz about the NHL.

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(1 -- 2) The return of Kings veteran Luc Robitaille, top, and the addition of Jeremy Roenick is good news for L.A. area hockey fans.

Noah Graham/Getty Images

Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images