Among the major sports leagues, the National Hockey League lags last in popularity. Its TV contract still amounts to relative chump change and marketing remains a work in need of overhaul.
But the NHL gets Christmas right.
By rule, NHL teams cannot practice, play or travel on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
By contrast, there were no fewer than five National Basketball Association games on national TV on Christmas Day. Nothing says “Merry Christmas” quite like a prime-time Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers clash.