Now that the World Series is over and Christmas is almost here (I know that because it’s that time of the year when we are told by TV ads to skip Thanksgiving), and spring training is about to begin since we’re engaged in the annual argument over who’s number one in college football, let’s turn to the NHL.

Normally one would have gotten this when the season was about to begin, but since the NHL begins before the baseball playoffs and continues until the All-Star game, baseball’s that is, one can never really be out of the NHL season, just like all the other year-round sports.

A friend of mine just moved to Arizona. I’m talking with my accountant, a common friend, about the move and the discussion goes like this:

Me: I think I’ll have a chance to see him pretty soon because I’ll be out there covering a game shortly.”

Accountant: “Where?”

Me: “In Phoenix”

Accountant: “What sport?”

Me: “Hockey.”

Accountant: “There’s a hockey team out there?”

Me: “The Coyotes.”

Accountant: “I guess you would have had me on that one if I’d have been on ‘Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?’.”

My accountant is a sports fan.

Another friend on the phone Monday night from Dallas says, “I’m watching The Three Stooges.”

“Which episode?” I asked.

“No,” he says, “I’m watching Monday Night Football. You know, once I never would have missed this stuff, now I just happened on it. I haven’t got a clue who’s playing for whom and you know what, I don’t care.”

All of which brings us to the current NHL season. Let me say it has begun, about 25 games ago for most teams. There are now 30 teams and any thought of knowing who’s playing where requires a digital index on your laptop computer. Seven of the top 10 teams play in the Western Conference, but eight Eastern Conference teams will be in the playoffs sometime between the Super Bowl and the baseball all-star game.

Like baseball, the same teams with money will win. Colorado will win the Cup and then lose half its team because it can’t afford to have eight guys making $20 million a year. Five or six teams will be in real financial trouble and the League will open the season next year in Vietnam since there must be at least one fan there who hasn’t bought a Rangers jersey yet.

So, enjoy Christmas, the holiday that comes after Halloween and before the election results are in, and if you happen upon a hockey game, remember the Coyotes are in Phoenix.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and CBS sportscaster.