I voted no and here’s why.  I like most things that separate the NHL from other pro leagues. Not sure how many NBA games there were on Christmas, but I know there were more than two. 

From what I’ve read in the Detroit papers, the Wings like having that day off to spend with their families.  I’d bet that Mike Ilitch and Ken Holland are resisting this move on behalf of their players.

We, hockey fans, like to think that our players are a little more like us than other pro athletes. We like to think that they are a little closer to middle-Americans or Canadiens than other athletes are to their fans. 

Letting them continue to spend Christmas at home would be a gesture that continues to lend validity to that.

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 01/06/09 at 08:10 AM ET

Yes, if the games are equally rotated among the teams. Otherwise, Christmas day games will just be a burden on the Wings, Rangers, Pens, Bruins, Hawks, and Caps—the teams that NBC will want every single year.

Otherwise, no fricken way.

Posted by Nathan on 01/06/09 at 08:35 AM ET

Bad idea.  Besides, what is a geographically close rival for Vancouver?

Christmas isn’t a TV-sport-viewing day.  Around New Year’s are the bowl games (and now the outdoor hockey), but Christmas is a time for waking up way too early, playing with brand new toys, video games, and letting the kids watch their new DVD’s over and over and over and over.  It isn’t a time to tell the family to stop playing so you can hear the hockey game.

Players are away from home enough to miss plenty of birthdays, anniversaries, and school events for their kids.  Let them spend a holiday with their families and get a little break from the grind of the season - and if their families are anything like most of the ones I know, give their stressed wives a little help dealing with excited kids. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/06/09 at 01:25 PM ET

Let the NBA have games on Christmas; let the NHL be with their families.  I’ve worked with a college football team who had a bowl game shortly after Christmas, and nobody (players, coaches, staff) got to go home for Christmas-- I realize that there’s a difference between college and pro players, but the end result was still the same: nobody enjoyed practice, everyone was in a terrible mood, and it was mostly unproductive.  NHL players don’t really get other family holidays off-- Thanksgiving, New Years, and I think it’s worth it for everyone to not play that day.

Posted by hockeymuskrat on 01/06/09 at 01:59 PM ET

I think a group of multi-millionaires, whose sole profession is the entertainment of others, can suck it up and have their family christmases either early or late as required. Goodness knows a lot of other schlubs have to do it.

Posted by Mojo Tooth on 01/06/09 at 03:22 PM ET

I voted no.  I’d rather be home with my family and watching the kids go nuts over the presents no...matter...what...my salary is.  Hell, even millionaire CEOs get to spend time with their families on Christmas.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 01/06/09 at 06:15 PM ET

Christmas is a family day. And, hockey players, still today, are much more solid citizen, ‘middle [American, Canadien, etc.] class’ people than any other athlete. This said they deserve the Holy/holiday time to spend with their families. I can withdraw from the NHL for thjis short period.

FYI:  My hockey background goes back to the late forties via radio [WMGM, CBE, CBM] and the first game in person at MSG in January 1950 Rangers 4 Canadiens 1. A hard pill to swallow. Incidentially the preceeding Memorial day I had witnessed my first live basesball game. My beloved Dodgers split a doubleheader at the Giants’ Polo Grounds.
My three sons became hockey addicts because of me. And, my four year old grandson, recently on ice skates, is an Islander fan.

Posted by John Matits Jr. from Stanhope, New Jersey on 01/08/09 at 12:06 AM ET