DETROIT – NHL players, coaches and staff cherish the league’s annual three-day Christmas break from Dec. 24-26 – no practices, no games.

It wasn’t always like this. Christmas Day games were an NHL tradition from the 1920s to 1971. The Detroit Red Wings have played more games on Dec. 25 than any team (38), going 15-18-5, but none in the past 54 years thanks to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and players association.

The Red Wings entered the break having won three in a row and eight-of-10 to tie Carolina for first in the Eastern Conference with 47 points.

But they’re grateful for the break, not only to recharge, but to spend time with family.

“It is special,” Dylan Larkin said. “A tradition like that (the break) means a lot to guys and it means a lot to me with my first Christmas with my daughter, something that I’ll always remember and I’m so excited for her. So, it’s a special time of year. It’s going to be even more special this year.”

James van Riemsdyk was excited to head home to Minnesota to be with his family, including twin boys born just before training camp.

“I think (the break) is obviously a really important thing for us, especially for someone like me this year when my family’s not here with me,” van Riemsdyk said. “Definitely I’m going to cherish every second I can with them this year. It’s always nice to get that chance to spend all the family time.”

The NBA has been playing on Christmas since 1947 and has scheduled five games on this holiday since 2008. The NFL has had many Christmas Day games over the years – three today including the Detroit Lions at Minnesota.

Those associated with the NHL eagerly await this time of year.

“It’s funny because I drive down with (assistant coach Trent Yawney) all the time and picked him up (Tuesday) morning, and we get tired, too,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. “I know we don’t skate a lot or do anything, but we have hours, and we spend a lot of time on the computer. And I said to him, ‘I can’t wait until (Wednesday) and not open up my computer, not even think about or talk about hockey.’

“But I can guarantee you, my son’s going to be calling me, and he’s going to break the game down, and we’ll be talking about hockey. But I will spend time with my wife, a couple of days together, just the two of us.”

The Red Wings return from the break Saturday with a game at Carolina (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network).