RUMOR: 2016 Winter Classic

[STLADOGG]

http://www.tsn.ca/report-bruins-canadie ... h-1.186554

Apparently Canadiens and Bruins are going to play at the Patriots stadium.

The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens appear set to take it outside in the 2016 Winter Classic.
According to multiple reports, the rivals will face off in the NHL's annual showcase at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 1.
A visit to the home of the New England Patriots marks just the third time the Winter Classic will be staged in an NFL stadium, having previously been held at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium (2008) and Pittsburgh's Heinz Field (2011).
The NHL is expected to make a formal announcement during the All-Star break this coming weekend in Columbus.
Both franchises have experience in outdoor games, with the Bruins hosting the 2011 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. The Canadiens, meanwhile, have played the visitors at two Heritage Classic games including 2003 in Edmonton and 2011 at Calgary's McMahon Stadium.
The 2003 Heritage Classic between the Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers at Commonwealth Stadium was the first ever regular season NHL outdoor game.

[cardsfan04]

ugh, I don't know why I let myself get my hopes up that this was going to be about the Blues playing in it. I may not boycott Bruins/Habs though. Until the Blues get one, I won't watch a WC with the blackhawks, red wings, Capitals or Penguins.

[dmiles2186]

As blah as it is since the Bruins have been in it, at least this is an actual rivalry. Unlike, you know, Hawks/Capitals.

[JesusNEVERexisted]

The sight lines are awful in a big stadium for hockey. I'm surprised they do this at all.

[Kreegz2]

I haven't watched the WC since they diluted the allure of it by adding a ton of other outdoor stadium games each season. Probably won't watch this one either.

[cprice12]

With my annual outrage set aside at the Blues not getting the nod in one of these things... I'm looking forward to this one more than most.
I've always loved the Bruins / Habs rivalry. One of the best in hockey.

With that said... the Blues and Hawks really do need to play in one sooner rather than later. They have one of the best rivalries in the NHL. No idea why they haven't done this game yet. The Blues draw well, they have an interesting history, they have one of the most heated & bitter rivalries in sports (Blackhawks), they have always drawn well on national broadcasts, they have a fan favorite and international household name in Oshie (Olympics shootout vs. Russia), a budding and flashy superstar in Tarasenko, and they are one of the top teams in the NHL. So what is the holdup?
Oh, I forgot...we don't have Ovechkin, Crosby or Toewes on our team...and we aren't a huge market or on the east coast.

When your die hard hockey fans are getting tired of seeing the same teams year in and year out in the Winter Classic, you know you are doing something wrong. I'd love to see new teams in it each year. It's just more fun to see teams in it for the first time than to see the Penguins, Hawks or Caps in it for the 3rd time.

[JesusNEVERexisted]

Blues vs. Hawks at Busch stadium!

Panger or Kerbs hinted that would be done in time for the Blues 50th anniversary in a couple years!

[glen a richter]

Never been wild about the outdoor games. In a regular season where every point matters, putting two teams who may or may not need every point they can get into a game where they have to contend with the elements just doesn't seem fair. I would be completely in favor of the ASG being outdoors, and have it preceded by local youth hockey teams having a tournament on the same rink. But regular season games, no. Every team should have their 82 regular season games in a similar indoor environment. And yes, I'm aware that most of these guys grew up playing pond hockey and it doesn't faze them changing settings, but still, something about it seems wrong.

[STLADOGG]

Also according to.. http://www.tsn.ca/video/insider-trading ... o-1.187736

The Stadium Series games will be in Minnesota and Denver.

[cprice12]

Never been wild about the outdoor games. In a regular season where every point matters, putting two teams who may or may not need every point they can get into a game where they have to contend with the elements just doesn't seem fair. I would be completely in favor of the ASG being outdoors, and have it preceded by local youth hockey teams having a tournament on the same rink. But regular season games, no. Every team should have their 82 regular season games in a similar indoor environment. And yes, I'm aware that most of these guys grew up playing pond hockey and it doesn't faze them changing settings, but still, something about it seems wrong.

I dunno. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of players in the NHL today didn't play a lot of pond hockey...at least not near as much as they did 50 years ago.

[dmiles2186]

Also according to.. http://www.tsn.ca/video/insider-trading ... o-1.187736

The Stadium Series games will be in Minnesota and Denver.

The Hawks and Wings are opponents. NHL trying something refreshing and new!

[cprice12]

Also according to.. http://www.tsn.ca/video/insider-trading ... o-1.187736

The Stadium Series games will be in Minnesota and Denver.

The Hawks and Wings are opponents. NHL trying something refreshing and new!

The Hawks and Wings are the opponents? I JUST now saw that.

Jesus (Franking) christ.

It is flat out embarrassing how many times the Wings and Hawks are in these things. It's almost every (Franking) year. This is ridiculous.

[dmiles2186]

Also according to.. http://www.tsn.ca/video/insider-trading ... o-1.187736

The Stadium Series games will be in Minnesota and Denver.

The Hawks and Wings are opponents. NHL trying something refreshing and new!

The Hawks and Wings are the opponents? I JUST now saw that.

Jesus (Franking) christ.

It is flat out embarrassing how many times the Wings and Hawks are in these things. It's almost every (Franking) year. This is ridiculous.

Yep. I think what frustrates me the most is that Minneosta is finally getting a game...and the NHL doesn't schedule them to play the Stars. That is a no brainer, slam dunk, awesome matchup. And the NHL straight up dropped the ball on it.

[cardsfan04]

Also according to.. http://www.tsn.ca/video/insider-trading ... o-1.187736

The Stadium Series games will be in Minnesota and Denver.

The Hawks and Wings are opponents. NHL trying something refreshing and new!

The Hawks and Wings are the opponents? I JUST now saw that.

Jesus (Franking) christ.

It is flat out embarrassing how many times the Wings and Hawks are in these things. It's almost every (Franking) year. This is ridiculous.

Yep. I think what frustrates me the most is that Minneosta is finally getting a game...and the NHL doesn't schedule them to play the Stars. That is a no brainer, slam dunk, awesome matchup. And the NHL straight up dropped the ball on it.

Wow, yeah, that was really set on a tee for them and they botched it.

[Kerfuffle]

I dunno. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of players in the NHL today didn't play a lot of pond hockey...at least not near as much as they did 50 years ago.

I agree. I'm older so I think kids today are wimps and I believe most would be too afraid of the cold to play a pickup game outdoors when they can just find their local ice rink and play indoors where it's warm and have lockers and all the amenities that their generation demands.

[ecbm]

Meh. I hear the NHL has a party every January to which they'll never invite 2/3 of the league. Just another game that doesn't interest me much.

No idea why they haven't done this game yet.

I imagine that's rhetorical but here goes just in case it's not. It's because Bettman & Co. are still pursuing their NBA strategy of marketing the crap out of a few markets and stars to the near-total neglect of the rest of the league due to the belief that only the Rangers/Penguins/Bruins/Blackhawks/etc can attract casual fans. Who knows, maybe they're right. But here's one hockey fan who doesn't give a rat's about these games anymore. I'm sure I can find a game featuring CHI/TOR/BOS/NYR/DET or one of the California teams on TV should I get the urge to watch them for some reason.

[ecbm]

Yep. I think what frustrates me the most is that Minneosta is finally getting a game...and the NHL doesn't schedule them to play the Stars. That is a no brainer, slam dunk, awesome matchup. And the NHL straight up dropped the ball on it.

Oh? Imagining that the current NHL admin knows/cares about the history of the league-bless you!