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NHL’s Winter Classic, Outdoor Games Novelties Wearing Off

By Diana Driscoll

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The 2016 Winter Classic may not be taking place until Jan. 1, 2016, but it’s a hot topic right now. Days ago, the NHL held a press conference at Gillette Stadium, introducing the Boston Bruins’ and Montreal Canadiens’ logos for the game (I’m upset Milan Lucic won’t be there to ignite the rivalry), and talk of the Stadium Series games has started to pick up as well (did you see a mock up of the Colorado Avalanche’s jerseys? Not too pretty).

I love the outdoor games, especially ones that feature two teams that seethe animosity—it makes the game more exciting. But is the NHL going too far with the amount of outdoor games?

The outdoor games have been part of the NHL tradition since the early 2000s. It was a way for the League to get back to its roots—the great outdoors. I mean, it was in the cold, wintry settings on the frozen pond that future NHLers got their first taste of the game of ice hockey. It was there that memories were made, bonds were forged and passions ignited. It makes sense to incorporate an annual outdoor game into the League.

Now, the NHL has its annual Winter Classic, Heritage Classic and Stadium Series games. That’s a lot. In 2014 it was six outdoor games; last year it was two. And this upcoming season the NHL will have four. So, the League is still trying to come up with that magic number of games that will allow it to find a Goldilocks’ balance: just right.

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It isn’t just the number of games that the NHL has to be concerned about, but also the teams involved. There are 30 teams in the League and 18 teams have played in 15 outdoor games. Many of these teams have played in more than one outdoor game, while 12 other teams haven’t played in any. The NHL needs to add variety to the games because it is getting too repetitive.

I don’t want to see the same teams play each other or just the same teams playing in general (the Chicago Blackhawks will be playing in their fourth outdoor game and third in as many years when they take on the Minnesota Wild during the Stadium Series). I want the spotlight to focus on other prominent rivalries, as well as create new ones (I do have to say the Wild-Blackhawks rivalry is heating up with the two teams meeting in three consecutive postseasons).

The NHL proved, with a couple of outdoor games in California, that it can handle the hot weather. So, this means teams like the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Arizona Coyotes should get their shot at an outdoor game. And I’m sorry, but how have the St. Louis Blues not been involved in an outdoor game yet? I don’t know why I find that so surprising, but I guess with the team’s talent and its recent success in the past few regular seasons, it would be nice to see them take the game outside.

I am glad to see the NHL recognize (at least I think they have) how fragile the Winter Classic and its other novelty series are. They are great for the League—bringing in money and expanding its audience—but they have a way of getting really old really fast.

As long as the NHL paces itself (and doesn’t go outdoor crazy like it did in 2014) and mixes it up, I believe the magic of the Winter Classic, Heritage Classic and Stadium Series won’t wear thin any time soon.

Next: Habs-Bruins Great Winter Classic Matchup

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