Winter Classic a Terrible Event

[MyLeafsForever]

First, let me begin by saying that i am definitely swimming against the current here. Given all the media hype and NHL spin, I must say i certainly expect a bit of backlash from this post.

I find the event terrible, especially for a real game that matters for real points. The game in Pittsburgh had environmental variables that should never play a role in the outcome in an NHL game that matters for points. Rain? They played through rain? There isn't an outdoor rink in all of Canada that would see players skating in rain, and the NHL game itself has no semblance to anything you would see in any outdoor rink in Canada. Edmonton was another example of an unreal situation presented to the public as a heritage game, when in fact most outdoor rinks are empty at -30 degrees celcius. Does anyone recall the heritage game in Las Vegas at temperatures of +35 degrees celcius?

The whole thing is a sham that is as artificial as the ice they are skating on.

Another point to be made is about the players themselves. I doubt seriously seriously doubt that any of those players have skated on outdoor ice since they reached AAA hockey. These players are the best of the best, and have had everything catered for them, including the venues they play. I would bet that more than one of those players playing are thinking that this is just a stupid event that should never happen. But Bettemen and the NHL machine won't let anyone speak out against it. What would happen if a player is injured due to weather? Say a bad rut that causes a serious knee injury because of less than ideal ice. Sure it happens in indoor rinks, but if an environmental factor exacerbated the poor ice conditions, the NHLPA would be screaming about its members having to play in less than ideal conditions.

Of course the event itself should happen. it makes a lot of money. But the game that should be played outdoors is the NHL all star game, a game that doesn't matter. Having so much on the line (points in the standings) for a side show doesn't seem fair to the fans, to the players or to the League itself. It makes a mockery of the game.

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[Tommy Hawk]

The game was in Pittsburgh, not Washington.

 

[MyLeafsForever]

The game was in Pittsburgh, not Washington.

corrected... had ovechkin on my mind.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

2 points out of a possible 164 a team can earn thoughout the course of a season is pretty minor. Both teams skate at the same conditions with the opportunity to earn those points, so there shouldn't be too many issues there.

 

[jessebelanger]

Rain? They played through rain? There isn't an outdoor rink in all of Canada that would see players skating in rain, and the NHL game itself has no semblance to anything you would see in any outdoor rink in Canada.

I went skating outdoors in Canada, in the rain, last week.

 

[Jumbo*]

I skate in the rain all the time. Actually the only time I will skate is if its raining, it builds character.

 

[mygameworn]

Crosby himself said the conditions were fine. That should be enough for anyone.

 

[MyLeafsForever]

I went skating outdoors in Canada, in the rain, last week.

Date, time, location please?

 

[King Woodballs]

no backlash from me
I personally had zero interest in watching it so I didnt
I didnt even watch the highlights

 

[MyLeafsForever]

2 points out of a possible 164 a team can earn thoughout the course of a season is pretty minor. Both teams skate at the same conditions with the opportunity to earn those points, so there shouldn't be too many issues there.

You are absolutely wrong. 2 points are critical in the final outcome of the standings. In the West today, 2 points are the difference between 6th place and 11th place. 2 points are huge!

 

[tarheelhockey]

Both teams skate at the same conditions with the opportunity to earn those points

End of story. Neither team was advantaged. This is no different than the teams who began the season in Europe having to play on larger rinks, Philly/Buffalo playing in the fog, the occasional mishap that causes bad ice, or whatever other variable you want to come up with.

This is hockey for god's sake. A little bit of ****ing water on their jersey is the least of their worries.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

I like how you compare "final outcome" with "today". Kinda kill it for yourself, there.

 

[dkehler]

I actually think you make a lot of good points. However, the game is a bit of a cash cow for the NHL, so unfortunately, it's here to stay.

 

[SomeDude]

Both teams played on the same ice, it's not like the Caps are more experienced at playing in the rain so that's why they won. Both teams still had an equal shot at the 2 points.

I also do not care for the event and hope it's the last one the Pens are in, even though I'm sure we've got another one coming in a few years. There's yet to be a game that isn't terrible, and I was over the novalty of an outdoor game by 2nd intermission of Pens vs Sabres.

That being said, the NHL would be incredibly stupid to stop the event. For whatever reason, people love it (I just think it goes to show you how fickle the average american sports fan is) and it's a cash cow for the league.

How it crushes the Finals in ratings frustrates me because everyone watching the WC is always watching a crappy game while I think playoff hockey could get more people hooked.

Whatever, to each his own.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

First, let me begin by saying that i am definitely swimming against the current here. Given all the media hype and NHL spin, I must say i certainly expect a bit of backlash from this post.

I find the event terrible, especially for a real game that matters for real points. The game in Pittsburgh had environmental variables that should never play a role in the outcome in an NHL game that matters for points. Rain? They played through rain?

All games have certain variables that play a role in the outcome of a game. Had the variables been out of control or made for a dangerous situation, the League would not have played the game. Keep in mind there was talk about the potential for the game to be canceled entirely if conditions weren't favorable.

Edmonton was another example of an unreal situation presented to the public as a heritage game, when in fact most outdoor rinks are empty at -30 degrees celcius.

And what was the attendance for that game? Over 57,000? Cold weather conditions hardly stopped people from coming out. And it was only that cold when you factor in wind chill. The temperature itself was -18°C/0°F.

Does anyone recall the heritage game in Las Vegas at temperatures of +35 degrees celcius?

I do. I also recall that game time temps were cooler than that (around 27°C/80°F) and that the only problem they faced was an invasion of grasshoppers. The ice itself was actually *too* cold.

The whole thing is a sham that is as artificial as the ice they are skating on.

You DO realize that, technically, all NHL ice is artificial, right? NHL arenas aren't exactly sitting astride lakes and ponds that have frozen over.

Another point to be made is about the players themselves. I doubt seriously seriously doubt that any of those players have skated on outdoor ice since they reached AAA hockey. These players are the best of the best, and have had everything catered for them, including the venues they play. I would bet that more than one of those players playing are thinking that this is just a stupid event that should never happen.

Maybe so, but in this social media-driven world, nobody's said that yet and most NHL players aren't exactly afraid to speak out. On the other hand there have been more than a few players who've expressed how much they love the idea.

But Bettemen and the NHL machine won't let anyone speak out against it.

What would happen if a player is injured due to weather? Say a bad rut that causes a serious knee injury because of less than ideal ice. Sure it happens in indoor rinks, but if an environmental factor exacerbated the poor ice conditions, the NHLPA would be screaming about its members having to play in less than ideal conditions.

And again, that's why the League exercises caution in how they approach the game. Had conditions been bad enough to endanger the safety of the players - especially when the League's two biggest and most marketable stars are playing - you can bet they would have rescheduled/canceled the outdoor game as necessary.

Of course the event itself should happen. it makes a lot of money. But the game that should be played outdoors is the NHL all star game, a game that doesn't matter.

Uh, no. All Star Games are revenue generators for markets. Are you seriously saying that we should limit who gets ASGs to a handful of markets? Beyond that you're upset about the possibility of a player getting hurt in bad ice conditions in a regular season game. By your logic, a star player getting hurt in bad ice conditions in an ASG is a nice way to have the NHLPA crusading to get the ASG shut down period.

Having so much on the line (points in the standings) for a side show doesn't seem fair to the fans, to the players or to the League itself. It makes a mockery of the game.

The majority of fans love it, the games sell well, market well, and broadcast well. The majority of players seem to love it, and the League loves it too. I don't quite think that's a "mockery."

 

[kmad]

The whole thing is a sham that is as artificial as the ice they are skating on.

I just find this comment funny for some reason.

 

[Fidel Astro]

All games have certain variables that play a role in the outcome of a game. Had the variables been out of control or made for a dangerous situation, the League would not have played the game. Keep in mind there was talk about the potential for the game to be canceled entirely if conditions weren't favorable.

Personally, I don't think rain was a problem because it could have caused bad ice conditions, I think rain was a problem because it's an absolutely ridiculous thing to happen during the winter in the first place. When precipitation is falling from the sky in the middle of winter, it's supposed to be snow. Snow is totally understandable during an outdoor hockey game. Rain is just ...weird.

I do. I also recall that game time temps were cooler than that (around 27°C/80°F) and that the only problem they faced was an invasion of grasshoppers. The ice itself was actually *too* cold.

I'm sorry, but I thought I just read that a (scorching hot) temperature of +27 was considered "cooler". Cannot compute.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Personally, I don't think rain was a problem because it could have caused bad ice conditions, I think rain was a problem because it's an absolutely ridiculous thing to happen during the winter in the first place. When precipitation is falling from the sky in the middle of winter, it's supposed to be snow. Snow is totally understandable during an outdoor hockey game. Rain is just ...weird.



I'm sorry, but I thought I just read that a (scorching hot) temperature of +27 was considered "cooler". Cannot compute.

A temperature of 27° is less than (read: cooler than) 35°, which is what the original poster said the game time temperature was in the Vegas game.

 

[edog37]

being at the game, it really wasn't that great. I can't imagine the league was all too pleased about it either. Yes, it got great ratings, but they were looking for a high scoring game with either Ovechkin or Crosby winning it. Instead, it turned into a trap fest with Fehr being the big offensive star.

 

[dkehler]

being at the game, it really wasn't that great. I can't imagine the league was all too pleased about it either. Yes, it got great ratings, but they were looking for a high scoring game with either Ovechkin or Crosby winning it. Instead, it turned into a trap fest with Fehr being the big offensive star.

The thing is, it really isn't a fan friendly experience (at least not live fan friendly). The sightlines are crappy, for one thing, and the conditions don't make for an offensive showcase. It's just pack them into a bigger than normal stadium and show the unusual event on TV when most people are at home to watch it.

 

[saskganesh]

FYI temperatures in Toronto on New Year's Day were 6 C.

Unless the NHL takes an active, progressive role in mitigating Global Climate Change (as if) it is likely this kind of freak seasonal weather will happen again, no matter where they schedule the game.

 

[Vic Rattlehead*]

The money and exposure generated from this event indicate otherwise.

 

[MoreOrr]

I find the event terrible, especially for a real game that matters for real points. The game in Pittsburgh had environmental variables that should never play a role in the outcome in an NHL game that matters for points. Rain? They played through rain? There isn't an outdoor rink in all of Canada that would see players skating in rain, and the NHL game itself has no semblance to anything you would see in any outdoor rink in Canada. Edmonton was another example of an unreal situation presented to the public as a heritage game, when in fact most outdoor rinks are empty at -30 degrees celcius. Does anyone recall the heritage game in Las Vegas at temperatures of +35 degrees celcius?

The conditions were the same for both teams. And often there are arena ice conditions that are worse than what they experienced there. And about there never being rain in Canada when playing hockey outdoors... Where are you from? There are lots of places in Canada, not only Vancouver, where it's very possible to get rain in winter.

The whole thing is a sham that is as artificial as the ice they are skating on.

An empty statement!

Another point to be made is about the players themselves. I doubt seriously seriously doubt that any of those players have skated on outdoor ice since they reached AAA hockey. These players are the best of the best, and have had everything catered for them, including the venues they play. I would bet that more than one of those players playing are thinking that this is just a stupid event that should never happen. But Bettemen and the NHL machine won't let anyone speak out against it. What would happen if a player is injured due to weather? Say a bad rut that causes a serious knee injury because of less than ideal ice. Sure it happens in indoor rinks, but if an environmental factor exacerbated the poor ice conditions, the NHLPA would be screaming about its members having to play in less than ideal conditions.

Of course the event itself should happen. it makes a lot of money. But the game that should be played outdoors is the NHL all star game, a game that doesn't matter. Having so much on the line (points in the standings) for a side show doesn't seem fair to the fans, to the players or to the League itself. It makes a mockery of the game.

Most of those players never experienced the rigors of an NHL Season until they joined the League, and those conditions lend more to injury than one solo outdoor game. A special game that helps to sell the NHL itself, the League that pays their salaries. Besides, they get paid well, and to play in a game that helps sell the NHL, as I said also helps indirectly to pay their salaries. And what about the Olympics... the players who play in those games could get hurt and effect the rest of the Season with their respective NHL teams?

There's nothing at all bad about the "Winter Classic". Although I would hope that they continue to hold it in places that actually have a 'winter'.

 

[CorbeauNoir]

I think the notion of outdoor games are great but they're becoming more and more mundane - which isn't helped by the fact that they're now apparently going with two of them a year. The latest one was the worst of the lot - between the dizzying camera angles, piss-poor ice conditions, and complete lack of historic venue or memorable scenery, it was the first time I've ever actually been GLAD to have CBC forcing the Leafs down my throat. It was just a dull game that lacked any real sensation of being outdoors beyond the ****** ice quality and lack of spectators against the boards. To say nothing of the mountains upon mountains of media-induced Crosby-Ovechkin hype/ipecac that amounted to absolutely nothing come puck-drop.

I think it's best kept the way of the original Heritage Classic, something that's only done once every few years. At least then there's something genuinely special and unique about the event. As-is it's starting to become bleh, particularly given that they're recycling the same teams in BOTH Classics now.

 

[Confucius]

I've got no problem with it. If Colorado wants to play on a mountain top and the visiting team agrees, meh, let em do it. I wouldn't pay NHL prices to watch it mind you, but if the locals do, it has nothing to do with me.