winter classic time for a change
Thursday, December 11, 2008

Posted by kading8

Back in 2003 I was at the very first outdoor regulation NHL game between the Oilers and the Canadiens. It was an absolutly great day and I've never been colder in my life. At game time the temperature was -30 °C (-22 °F) with wind chill. I'd have drank beer if I'd have thought I could drink it before it froze.

That game was called the Heritage Classic; the game last year in Buffalo between the Pens and Sabres was re branded as the Winter Classic a name which is being used again this season for the outdoor game between the Red Wings and Blackhawks.

I love this game. Last year on a cruise ship to the Bahamas I managed to watch the first two periods and this year I'll be hung over on my couch watching. But there are a couple of things I'd like the NHL to look at when it comes to the Winter Classic.

First of all, give it a rest. The 4+ years between the first and second games may have been to long but playing it every year is to much. At a max the game should be held every two years. Ideally I'd say 3 or 4 years but this is the NHL and they've found something they can market and they plan to market the hell out of it. By limiting the frequency though you don't risk it getting old quite so fast. I know every team wants to host it but not every team has to host it.

Secondly, and I'll admit this is pretty unlikely, why don't we play the next three games in Hartford, Quebec City, and Winnipeg. Think about it, these are the cities who lost their teams in the NHLs shift to big time sports (Minnesota did too but you have the Wild now so you don't count), these are cities that likely will not have an NHL team at any time in the near future, and with the exception of the Avs I really don't see how the Coyotes or Hurricanes would be able to host a game ever.

I know some people will say "But so and so is more deserving of an outdoor game". Now I'm not really sure who deserves a game or not, but what I do know is that every NHL city gets to host 41 regular season games, why not let these three have just 1? Tell me you don't want to see the Jets and Nordiques out there just one more time, or that you don't wan't to hear the Brass Bonanza again.

I know I'm reaching but I think that this would be a great idea for the NHL to look into. Oh and there's just 23 days to go until Winter Classic 2009.