Reason #1 why NBA destroys NHL in popularity? NHL currently has a major star to team problem. 8 teams currently left.

Vegas - no star
Vancouver - no star
Colorado - Mackinnon
Dallas - no star
Philadelphia - no star
Islanders - no star
Tampa - Kucherov
Boston - Several

That is a severe lack of name value to get people to tune into the next two rounds. Compare to NBA:

Lakers - LeBron/AD
Rockets - Harden/Westbrook
Thunder - CP3
Nuggets - Jokic
Jazz - Mitchell
Clippers - Kawhi/PG
Bucks - Giannis
Heat - Butler
Celtics - Tatum
Raptors - Siakim

This statement is simply about the NHL’s inability to market and create stars. Difference between star power and talent, the latter of which hockey has in abundance. Just stating why I think NBA ratings crush hockey’s (in every country but Canada). That’s just a fact.

Hockey twitter is amazing! Lol. To think my little old tweet about how NHL marketing (league and stars responsible) needs to do better to catch up with NBA (among other leagues) has angered so many is impressive. I love hockey. Watch it all the time. Wish more people did as well.

Let’s just keep stoking the fire. Here is my list of actual NHL stars (guys known pretty well outside the sport but still among general sports fans)

BOS - Bergeron, Chara, Marchand
TB - Kucherov, Stamkos
TOR - Matthews, Tavares
MON - Price
WAS - Ovechkin
PIT - Crosby, Malkin

List contd.

NJ - Subban
NYR - Lundqvist
VGS - Fleury
COL - MacKinnon
CHI - Toews, Kane
EDM - McDavid, Draisaitl
CAL - Tkachuk
SJ - Burns, Karlsson

Ok, bring it on hockey community. Yes, I am aware there are dozens more talented studs, just not well known enough at large.