The NHL hit home runs with its Winter Classics at Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. And the Penguins' shootout win in the Buffalo snow was pretty amazing as well. But now what? We have a few ideas on where the NHL should play next year's Classic — some more serious than others.
New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils, Meadowlands Stadium. It's time for the NHL to go back to football stadiums, and what better place to start than the new Meadowlands Stadium in Jersey? And unlike the old baseball parks the NHL has favored the past two years, this place will be shiny and new ... aside from whatever damage the New York Giants and Jets fans inflict on it.
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars, Target Stadium. Speaking of new stadiums, the Twins' new home may be the perfect place for Minnesota fans to cheer on the Wild — and take out their anger on the Stars, who left them in 1993 for Texas.
Washington Capitals vs. TBD, FedEX Field. We don't care who plays the Capitals. We just want to see Alex Ovechkin in a Winter Classic. Sid the Kid had his moment to shine in the first Classic, and it's time for Alex the Great to get his chance.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens, Rogers Centre. Most hockey players in the NHL are Canadian. Most of them started out playing on the frozen ponds and lakes of Canada. So why not take the Winter Classic back to where it all started? Sure, the television ratings in the U.S. won't be that great, but who cares? It's time to get at least one Canadian team in the Winter Classic.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Coliseum. While the Rose Bowl hosts one of the biggest college bowl games across town, Gary Bettman can prove hockey can survive in warm climates by hosting the Winter Classic in California. Of course, he'll also have to prove an outdoor ice rink can survive in sunny Southern California. But if the NHL ice guys can make it work, the league can pack L.A.'s Coliseum.
Atlanta Thrashers vs. Nashville Predators, Georgia Dome. And if the NHL's ice guys can make a rink work in California, they can make it work in Georgia, too. To actually make it interesting for the casual fan, the loser gets kicked out of the NHL.
Phoenix Coyotes vs. Colorado Avalanche, Canad Inns Stadium. The former Winnipeg Jets and the former Quebec Nordiques would be the perfect match for a game at the home of the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In order to make up for the league's sending teams south of the border, the loser has to stay in Canada and become Winnipeg's new NHL organization.
source-http://msn.foxsports.com
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=250cc2bd-ddc2-43bd-8560-8022d2445e4e)
0 Responses to Where to take the Winter Classic next