Rumor: Hawks in 2025 Winter Classic

[IU Hawks fan]

The Jeff Marek Show

Sportsnet insider Jeff Marek goes around the league in Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s national NHL show, airing live across the country daily from 12pm-2pm ET. Opinion, news and analysis featuring daily segments from insider Elliotte Friedman.

www.sportsnet.ca

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[End of Line]

Not again

 

[Yukon Joe]

They want to show off Bedard. I could do without seeing the Hawks in an outdoor game, but I guess it makes sense.

 

[varsaku]

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.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

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.

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

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

 

[No Fun Shogun]

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.

 

[Yukon Joe]

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)?

 

[CANADIENSFAN90]

Please not Chicago again

 

[hawksrule]

I hate outdoor games. Something about the TV camera angles give me a headache. Please not Chicago.

 

[CBJ goalie]

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

 

[Bixby Snyder]

Just wait until Pittsburgh is awarded the next big prospect.

 

[AintLifeGrand]

only way it would be cool is Hawks vs Preds in Neyland stadium

 

[GKJ]

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.

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.

 

[Kirk Van Houten]

The Jeff Marek Show

Sportsnet insider Jeff Marek goes around the league in Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s national NHL show, airing live across the country daily from 12pm-2pm ET. Opinion, news and analysis featuring daily segments from insider Elliotte Friedman.

www.sportsnet.ca

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.

 

[belfour30]

Hawks fan saying not yet. Maybe if Uncle Gary has a fix in for Celebrini.

 

[Voight]

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.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Blackhawks Red Wings probably

 

[Yukon Joe]

Listening to Friedman on I believe it was Jeff Marek's radio show (so not 32 thoughts) - he was speculating Pittsburgh. That wasn't confirmed, but the fact it would be Chicago basically was (though not official yet). Comes down to TV ratings - Seattle-Vegas was an interesting (albeit non-traditional) matchup, but did less well in the ratings than other Winter Classics have done, whereas the highest rated regular game of the year was the Hawks season opener with Bedard.

 

[waitin425]

The League is going all in on Bedard and Celebrini here, can't say I'm surprised!

 

[varsaku]

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.

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

 

[tank44]

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.

 

[Yukon Joe]

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.

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.

NHL Winter Classic - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Of all the places that they'd consider, that small dump of a stadium wouldn't be on their list of venues.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Ryan Field is under construction, Northwestern isn't even playing there next year.

 

[MrSG1]

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.