The 4 Nations Face-Off was a game-changer. How will the NHL capitalize on it -- and what comes next for its midseason events?

Either the U.S. or Canada claims the championship of the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off midseason tournament Thursday — but the league has already won. Why it matters: The tournament has delivered everything All-Star Games across sports have come to lack: The players care,

Here is why the 4 Nations Face-Off was a massive success for the NHL following Team Canada's victory over Team USA.

How well did the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off perform? Well enough to make hockey look great. And to make it look bad. Via FrontOfficeSports.com, the game between the U.S. and Canada attracted an average audience of 9.