Loved the Montreal/Edmonton game. Bitter cold, brittle ice.

But every year the game gets worse. Bad ice, bad hockey, I choose to longer watch. Why would we celebrate ugly hockey?
- spatso

It is the only one I would have liked to have gone to because it was a unique and cool idea.

The Heritage Classic is more of a Canadian thing. The Winter Classic has been so Americanized. It's Bettman's way of promoting Hockey in the United States. During the Winter Classic NBC even called it "Hockey Day In America". This is why I like to call it a separate event from the Heritage Classic. Although I do agree that the Winter Classic is a progression from the Heritage Classic, I don't think of it as the first "Winter Classic".

The Heritage Classic could probably go every year between two Canadian teams but Bettman does not really seem to like it as it takes away from the Winter Classic imo. The 2011 Heritage Classic almost didn't happen but it of course led to a sold out crowd in Calgary. A Classic in any of the Canadian cities (given they have sufficiently large stadiums) would yield great outdoor games.

But then there's Bettman. There's no need to promote Hockey in Canada is there
- ChrisGoalie39

Unfortunately, I agree that that is his perspective. I know we can't really argue with the idea that there is not much room for growth of the sport in Canada.

Still, a lot of Canadians feel like it is "our" game, and I think an outdoor game, if you are going to make it annual, should be in Canada.

Unfortunately, I agree that that is his perspective. I know we can't really argue with the idea that there is not much room for growth of the sport in Canada.

Still, a lot of Canadians feel like it is "our" game, and I think an outdoor game, if you are going to make it annual, should be in Canada.
- Aetherial

If I want an outdoor game, I'll go to my local park with my skates and stick and play.

The NHL moved indoors a few years ago for a reason - playing outside is crap.

Why anyone would want to go to these things is beyond me.

At what point do we conclude that this lockout is more about breaking this union than it is about the actual numeric discrepancy?

Now?
After the Winter Classic is cancelled?
If the season is cancelled?

Or do we believe the owners are bargaining in good faith, without intent to break the union... right up until they bring in the scabs.

I would say that "now" this is all about Fehr's tactics making it personal and the owners taking a stand.

If they cancel the season, I think we definitely have to wonder about the goal being to break the union.

If I want an outdoor game, I'll go to my local park with my skates and stick and play.

The NHL moved indoors a few years ago for a reason - playing outside is crap.

Why anyone would want to go to these things is beyond me.
- Atomic Wedgie

Because like 1200+ games are played indoors in the league every year. It is a unique experience to watch the game played under the conditions in which it was created.

I would have liked to have been at the first one. Now, I am way too old to want to sit through one in the cold

The Winter classic is just as much a part of the regular season as is game one or game 82, niether are worth a damn if both are not played...

I can see the issue from a pure revenue stand point for the owners and league, but Ek, you talk like the Winter classic is some sort of sacred game that is as timeless as the NHL itself and that somehow the NHLPA is trying to desecrate the sanctity of that game as some dirty ploy to get the NHL to cave... I could see if the Classic had been around for 30, 20 or even 10 years, but as poplular as they are, the fact of the matter is only 5 of these events have so far been played, they are still in their infancy so to claim that somehow the non-playing of this game means anything more than any other regular season game to fans slightly seems overstated.

Sure when there's a season going on, it means something, but when we've already missed a month of the season and in all probability many more months to come, the loss of the Winter classic doesn't seem any worse than the loss of game one, game two etc... IMO. It would be one thing to have a full season without the Winter classic, but with no season at all the Classic seems like just another game not being played...

Loved the Montreal/Edmonton game. Bitter cold, brittle ice.

But every year the game gets worse. Bad ice, bad hockey, I choose to longer watch. Why would we celebrate ugly hockey?
- spatso

Unfortunately, I agree that that is his perspective. I know we can't really argue with the idea that there is not much room for growth of the sport in Canada.

Still, a lot of Canadians feel like it is "our" game, and I think an outdoor game, if you are going to make it annual, should be in Canada.
- Aetherial

Exactly.

The Winter classic is just as much a part of the regular season as is game one or game 82, niether are worth a damn if both are not played...

I can see the issue from a pure revenue stand point for the owners and league, but Ek, you talk like the Winter classic is some sort of sacred game that is as timeless as the NHL itself and that somehow the NHLPA is trying to desecrate the sanctity of that game as some dirty ploy to get the NHL to cave... I could see if the Classic had been around for 30, 20 or even 10 years, but as poplular as they are, the fact of the matter is only 5 of these events have so far been played, they are still in their infancy so to claim that somehow the non-playing of this game means anything more than any other regular season game to fans slightly seems overstated.

Sure when there's a season going on, it means something, but when we've already missed a month of the season and in all probability many more months to come, the loss of the Winter classic doesn't seem any worse than the loss of game one, game two etc... IMO. It would be one thing to have a full season without the Winter classic, but with no season at all the Classic seems like just another game not being played...
- MnGump

hey, I am just talking about how great the game is. if canceling the Winter Classic means getting things going I would have cancelled it day 1.

If I want an outdoor game, I'll go to my local park with my skates and stick and play.

The NHL moved indoors a few years ago for a reason - playing outside is crap.

Why anyone would want to go to these things is beyond me.
- Atomic Wedgie

Listen grouchy old man, it is easy for you to say.

Soon, you will have a beer tap in your kitchen and you will never leave the house again.

hey, I am just talking about how great the game is. if canceling the Winter Classic means getting things going I would have cancelled it day 1.
- Eklund

Sadly, I think this also will mean nothing. I get why the NHL Is doing it financially, and from the perspective of removing a "threat" from the bargaining table.

The thing is, Fehr will say he knew this was coming all along and somehow the players will assume they should follow him... because he knew it.

Listen grouchy old man, it is easy for you to say.

Soon, you will have a beer tap in your kitchen and you will never leave the house again.
- Aetherial

I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the day when I can sit on my porch in an old brown cardigan and yell at kids who come too close to my lawn.

Grouchy old men have got it made.

@FriedgeHNIC's 30 Thoughts he says the teams driving the lockout are BOS, ANA, CLB, FLA, NYI, PHX, STL, WSH and DAL.


we could do without most of those teams.....lets just move forward without them
- Barx

Why Boston? They made profit ........

At what point do we conclude that this lockout is more about breaking this union than it is about the actual numeric discrepancy?

Now?
After the Winter Classic is cancelled?
If the season is cancelled?

Or do we believe the owners are bargaining in good faith, without intent to break the union... right up until they bring in the scabs.

I would say that "now" this is all about Fehr's tactics making it personal and the owners taking a stand.

If they cancel the season, I think we definitely have to wonder about the goal being to break the union.
- Aetherial

Lets hope they break the union then!

The Heritage Classic is more of a Canadian thing. The Winter Classic has been so Americanized. It's Bettman's way of promoting Hockey in the United States. During the Winter Classic NBC even called it "Hockey Day In America". This is why I like to call it a separate event from the Heritage Classic. Although I do agree that the Winter Classic is a progression from the Heritage Classic, I don't think of it as the first "Winter Classic".

The Heritage Classic could probably go every year between two Canadian teams but Bettman does not really seem to like it as it takes away from the Winter Classic imo. The 2011 Heritage Classic almost didn't happen but it of course led to a sold out crowd in Calgary. A Classic in any of the Canadian cities (given they have sufficiently large stadiums) would yield great outdoor games.

But then there's Bettman. There's no need to promote Hockey in Canada is there
- ChrisGoalie39

Well no offense, but why does Canada need promoting when it comes to hockey, period? All anyone hears is that Hockey is "Canadas game". We don't bich and moan about the Heritage classic being too "Canadianized"! Get over it, the Winter classic is an american event. Is it not enough to apparently hold the patent to ice hockey as Canadians? Besides, Toronto was in fact slated to play in the Winter classic this year were they not? I get tired of hearing it, as if Americans aren't allowed to like the game of hockey as much as Canadians. Trust me, we down here in the ol' US of A know where Canadians rank hockey in the grand scheme of things and we also know that we should all be thankful because without Canada, there would apparently be no such sport...

Ek, you do know that the first winter classic was in Edmonton right? It was called the heritage game then, but it was the first of what is now known as the Winter Classic.
- Aetherial

not true. the heritage classic may have helped give rise to the winter classic but like the habs/flames heritage classic in '11, the '03 event was completely different,

Sadly, I think this also will mean nothing. I get why the NHL Is doing it financially, and from the perspective of removing a "threat" from the bargaining table.

The thing is, Fehr will say he knew this was coming all along and somehow the players will assume they should follow him... because he knew it.
- Aetherial

The Winter Classic is good for the players as well. They benefit because it generates HRR.

I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the day when I can sit on my porch in an old brown cardigan and yell at kids who come too close to my lawn.

Grouchy old men have got it made.
- Atomic Wedgie

Eklund: The Magic of the Winter Classic ...Just Another Bargaining Chip.
- Eklund

the winter classic is an american thing. it doesn't hold the same appeal in canada.

@FriedgeHNIC's 30 Thoughts he says the teams driving the lockout are BOS, ANA, CLB, FLA, NYI, PHX, STL, WSH and DAL.


we could do without most of those teams.....lets just move forward without them
- Barx

I'm so glad Florida is dictating what they want.

If I was one of the 3,000 Florida fans who regularly tunes into a Panthers game on television, I would sleep well at night knowing my owner was sticking up for me.

http://larrybrownsports.c...r-than-infomercials/55667

The Winter Classic is good for the players as well. They benefit because it generates HRR.
- Champ

To which they will get almost nothing out of it and like it.

Well no offense, but why does Canada need promoting when it comes to hockey, period? All anyone hears is that Hockey is "Canadas game". We don't bich and moan about the Heritage classic being too "Canadianized"! Get over it, the Winter classic is an american event. Is it not enough to apparently hold the patent to ice hockey as Canadians? Besides, Toronto was in fact slated to play in the Winter classic this year were they not? I get tired of hearing it, as if Americans aren't allowed to like the game of hockey as much as Canadians. Trust me, we down here in the ol' US of A know where Canadians rank hockey in the grand scheme of things and we also know that we should all be thankful because without Canada, there would apparently be no such sport...
- MnGump

the best is skating with Canadians that you are better than.

the winter classic is an american thing. it doesn't hold the same appeal in canada.
- rob121

exactly.

Well no offense, but why does Canada need promoting when it comes to hockey, period? All anyone hears is that Hockey is "Canadas game". We don't bich and moan about the Heritage classic being too "Canadianized"! Get over it, the Winter classic is an american event. Is it not enough to apparently hold the patent to ice hockey as Canadians? Besides, Toronto was in fact slated to play in the Winter classic this year were they not? I get tired of hearing it, as if Americans aren't allowed to like the game of hockey as much as Canadians. Trust me, we down here in the ol' US of A know where Canadians rank hockey in the grand scheme of things and we also know that we should all be thankful because without Canada, there would apparently be no such sport...
- MnGump

Whether it is the Winter or the Heritage, it generates revenue and that is what is important for the players and the owners. It also brings interest from non traditional hockey fans and can definitely help grow the game in the good old US of A.

not true. the heritage classic may have helped give rise to the winter classic but like the habs/flames heritage classic in '11, the '03 event was completely different,
- Fountain-San

How was it completely different?

You put a pad of ice in a football stadium, you roll out old-time jerseys, and you play a game.

And more importantly, who cares?

The Winter Classic is a great promotional tool for the NHL in the US. I'm siding with McGrump from Minny on this one - Canadians need to get over it. They don't need it - TV ratings are already strong.

I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the day when I can sit on my porch in an old brown cardigan and yell at kids who come too close to my lawn.

Grouchy old men have got it made.
- Atomic Wedgie

I actually knew someone who lived next door to my best friend growing up. He would get all p*ssed if the football went onto his lawn and come out yelling and screaming.

Now, I understand him.