The Next Winter Classic Will See the Hawks Take on the Blues

The NHL as a league has done well at maintaining certain traditions. Of course, the Stanley Cup is thought to be a beautiful trophy, and notoriously difficult to win. Even the tradition of the original six clubs has a certain nostalgia to it. Furthermore, one more tradition that has been ongoing now, is that of outdoor games. Anywhere really, but especially in cold weather climates, there’s just something of a fairy tale to play on natural ice, in the elements, heck, on the tundra. Therefore, the NHL’s work at maintaining the winter classics is another timeless tradition the hockey world is so well-known for.

The History of the Winter Classic and other Outdoor Games

This will be the 16th edition of the specific Winter Classic variation of the outdoor events. The first such event occurred in 2008. The Winter Classic is known for being hosted in the USA. Moreover, the Canadian version, the Heritage Classic, has taken place seven times, dating back to 2003. In any case, anytime the NHL hosts an outdoor game, it’s a win for sport. For example, one noteworthy match was the 2014 Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. That game still holds the distinction as the NHL single-game attendance record at 105,491.

For Chicago and St. Louis, both teams would love to improve year-over-year. Chicago is in the midst of a full rebuild. It’s tough to think they will make a huge step towards relevance in 2024-25. They do have some interesting pieces to support Bedard. Players like Taylor Hall or Kevin Korchinski can help speed up the team’s rebuild. On the other hand, the Blues had a disappointing 2023-24 season. Despite a 91-point season, they sit in fifth in the Central division and more importantly out of the playoffs. It will be exciting for their talented players like Robert Thomas or Jordan Kyrou to share the spotlight with Bedard and the Hawks.