Rumor: Hawks in 2025 Winter Classic (2024)

varsaku said:

They should have waited a few years, they are still going to be pretty bad next year. Would have been better to select them once their rebuild has completed and are contenders.

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26-27 is also their 100th, which would've made sense.

That means we're probably getting Rangers/Red Wings that year.

Man, the literal only things that interest me is the hope that the Hawks finally bring out the late 40s/early 50s throwback that I've been wanting for three winter classics now.

Other than that, meh. Whatever. The very justified salt from across the league will be fun, too.

I'm more curious who would be in the 25-26 Heritage Classic (or whenever - they tend to run roughly every 2 years, but that's not etched in stone).

Looking - curiously no eastern team has ever "hosted" a Heritage Classic (2022 in Hamilton lists the Sabres as the home team versus the Leafs). 2017 saw the Leafs host the "Centennial Classic" however versus Detroit. As I'm researching apparently Ottawa also hosted an outdoor game against Montreal in 2017, although I can't find it had any special name.

So if you want to go by who is "due" it would be Montreal - but Molson Stadium seats 23,420 - scarcely bigger than the Bell Centre's 21,105. Olympic Stadium ahs the size, but with a permanent roof doesn't seem like it would really fit the bill.

The next team that is most "due" would be Calgary (2011 Heritage Classic), but they literally just played in the 2023 game in Edmonton, and lots of fans did travel.

Beyond that - who knows? Montreal at Toronto would draw huge for sure. Is there a oood neutral cite I'm not thinking of (Regina hosted back in 2019)?

Junk.
The whole "only good teams play in outdoor games" theory goes in the trash..... giving the Blackhawks another game for 1 player?

F***in stupid

varsaku said:

They should have waited a few years, they are still going to be pretty bad next year. Would have been better to select them once their rebuild has completed and are contenders.

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They will be when they are. Bedard drew the highest ratings of the season for ESPN. Your biggest stars have to be put in the biggest stages possible. Nobody will care how good the Blackhawks are.

IU Hawks fan said:

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The league clearly wants it to be the marquee game of the season with the best ratings so it makes sense from that perspective. Again the NHL needs to either move the WC from NYD or try to make a switch between networks since with the expanded CFP there's an opening in the early timeslot on ABC starting 2025.

Honestly, I got tired of seeing the Blackhawks in outdoor games every year (and I'm a fan of the team). They become so oversaturated.

I'd rather wait until the team gets better, some of the prospects develop and were closer to a playoff team. Even if we land Celebrini, the team next year is going to be pretty meh.

Voight said:

Honestly, I got tired of seeing the Blackhawks in outdoor games every year (and I'm a fan of the team). They become so oversaturated.

I'd rather wait until the team gets better, some of the prospects develop and were closer to a playoff team. Even if we land Celebrini, the team next year is going to be pretty meh.

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When they become good again, we are about to have the Blackhawks shoved in our faces at every opportunity by the NHL and ESPN.

For a Chicago/Bedard oppoent & location, Would the NHL consider an Edmonton vs Chicago Winter Classic? McDavid vs Bedard.. Put it in Wrigley.

Winter Classics would be in MLB or NCAAF stadiums only. NFL teams would not allow their stadium to be used for something else for 3 weeks at the end of their regular season. Maybe you could get a Thursday and then 2 weeks away but that's stretching it too.

tank44 said:

For a Chicago/Bedard oppoent & location, Would the NHL consider an Edmonton vs Chicago Winter Classic? McDavid vs Bedard.. Put it in Wrigley.

Winter Classics would be in MLB or NCAAF stadiums only. NFL teams would not allow their stadium to be used for something else for 3 weeks at the end of their regular season. Maybe you could get a Thursday and then 2 weeks away but that's stretching it too.

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It's certainly possible (Toronto did play in a Winter Classic)...

But remember that TV ratings >>> everything else in this context. McDavid might be a draw, but the Edmonton Oilers definitely are not. The only reason Chicago would be hosting a Winter Classic is because they draw viewers (certainly not because of their on-ice performance).

I would bet more on the Rangers being opponents, rather than the Oilers (Rangers are the only American Original 6 team the Blackhawks haven't played in a Winter Classic)

Weird - I was just double checking who has played in how many Winter Classics (Rangers 2, Chicago 4) and some joker has already listed the 2025 Winter Classic as being Chicago vs Columbus, played at Ryan Field.

I think we all understand, having the Leafs in a Winter Classic is a totally different ballgame than having Edmonton. The only way Edmonton ever could appear in one is if they become some sort of crazy dynasty like they were in the 1980s

My Idea is if the nhl wants to go over the top again, then how about something really crazy, Blackhawks @ Predators from Bristol, imagine being able to double the attendance record.