TRADE: Gleason for Liles trade has happened. It's a Winter Classic miracle. the Islanders were in on Gleason. Keep an eye on them.
I would like to credit the Maple Leafs twitter feed for the photo today. I am not at the game today. I stayed back with family this year for the Holidays, and it is really cool to get to experience this tradition in the warmth and on TV with the wife and kids. Being apart from all the hoopla, this one year, has really given me some great perspective. Waking up late and turning on the TV. It really can't be beat. Remembering when this game didn't exist makes me so proud it does.
I love all that surrounds this game.
I love how the NHL has infiltrated a major holiday and become part of something bigger than the league ever was before. Especially in the States. This game is the Super Bowl for the NHL. It really is. It is about more than the teams on the ice. It is the NHL's homage to the game at its essence. The best way to sell this sport is to put it out there in its purest form.
Sure, the result of this game is important. but not nearly as important as what it represents.
The NHL has die-hard fans in America, but today is the kind of day that can attract casual fans to this sport in America. Canada has casual hockey fans. We don't. We have casual baseball and football fans. There are millions of people today who will tune in and see the snow falling on 100,000 plus people and there is a chance some of them will become casual hockey fans...
Then again, maybe the sport is too good for casual fans.
Maybe they just quickly become die-hard fans.
Today's game reminds me of my favorite Winter Classic I attended so far...the first game. This game always deserves a football stadium. You know what's better than 35,000 live fans in a stadium? 70,000-100,000 fans in the stadium.
Two original six teams. Snow falling. So much to enjoy.
More later on the USA Olympic Team Announcement. Expect some surprises there...to say the least.
Cheers and Happy New Year to the best readers on the planet from all of us at HB.
Ek