I don't think I need the HD package to get NHL Network. I believe it comes with AT100 or NHLCI as long as you have a HD receiver. When you mention that you have to stretch or partial zoom the program on the remote, which remote are you talking about? The one for your tv or the Dish remote?
Dish remote - will format the picture for 4:3 or 16:9 through normal, black bars (HD 4:3 content on 16:9 set), stretch, partial zoom (a nice partial zoom without losing too much content and only slightly distorting 4:3 content), and full zoom modes.
They are nice options when dealing with the whole HD on SD set issue.