I actually care way more about EASHL than the other game modes. But mostly because I have friends that I play with and have a blast while doing so. That, and with how bad the other modes in the game have been the last 5 years with horrible AI and game play, it makes me want as many humans as possible controlling the players and not the EA computer guys.
It wouldn't bother me one bit if EASHL was its own separate entity. Make it a $40 stand alone game and I know all of my friends and teammates would just buy that. Wouldn't even need the NHL or NHLPA rights to make that game.
That being said, club and OTP haven't been that great either, but it still beats playing alone or 1v1 online to me.