Dabo is working on a project to create an unofficial successor to EHM 2007. Use this forum to discuss his project and any features you would like to see in either the initial version or in a future version.
I think there would be very little chance of the NHL even sending an email to be honest, it's not a high profile project and Dabo isn't looking to make a profit out of it. Of course it's up to him if he takes the risk, and as long as it's easy enough to fake it shouldn't be a big deal either way.
Real data can be used just by creating a new database-file with real data and use it when you create a new game. Someone other than me would have to create it though but I expected that from the beginning.