If Next Year's Winter Classic In Dallas Isn't The Stars vs The Minnesota Wild, Then The Winter Classic Is Dead
Now as I’m sure you’re all aware of by now, the 2020 Winter Classic will be hosted in Dallas. Because nothing screams “old time hockey” quite like an outdoor game in Texas. So many fond memories of growing up on the pastures in Texas, rattling some cattle, and playing some puck on the frozen ponds. I mean that’s what the Winter Classic is all about, no? It’s all about tapping in to the inner-child of these players and bringing the game back to its roots where these kids would spent countless hours playing on the outdoor rink. I mean it couldn’t possibly just be an easy cash grab for the NHL and now just a way for them to try to sell out the largest stadiums they can come across, could it? The NHL isn’t putting the 2020 Winter Classic in the Cotton Bowl just because it holds 92,000 people. They’re doing it because of how much the outdoor rink means to the sport and how much outdoor rink history is rooted in Dallas, Texas.
Alright so maybe it is just a cash grab at this point. And maybe it’s always just been a cash grab since, ya know, the NHL is a business and all that jazz. However, there’s still a way that the NHL could take this Winter Classic game in Dallas and at least disguise it as a game that actually matters. Because as of right now, the visiting team for this game is still undecided and as far as I’m concerned, there’s only one simple pick here–the Minnesota Wild.
1st off, it’s a division game so naturally it’ll mean a little more. And 2nd off, you can have both teams wearing North Stars sweaters for this game. Dallas in home and Minnesota in away. You have Mike Modano drop the puck for the ceremonial first faceoff. It’s one of those things that just makes so much sense that you have to imagine the NHL will find a way to mess it up. The good news, however?
At least it won’t be Chicago.