Ram

If it's about ratings/money and prestige history/performance of teams, then unfortunately, it looks like the NHL will have to include the same teams over and over. It should be about including different teams and expanding the event and interest level in the league/hockey in general to other areas of the country, especially where the local audience, facilities, and weather can hold it. I guess at this point though, sadly, the league is doing to right thing - it's kind of what they have to do to promote themselves.

Assuming that moving forward, one of the captains will always be the major all star of the host city? (Staal - Canes , Alfredsson - Sens) Heard speculation of Preds getting it next year. Weber?

Sergei would be great. And something tells me Gordie just won't allow himself to not suit up.

Watchin this one with my good friends tonight. Let's go Wings.

Those Blue Leafs jerseys and khaki pants would be awesome.

If the NHL is getting to a point where they are using the same teams repeatedly for the WC, then they might as well embrace the same format the NFL has for Thanksgiving games. Always have the same teams play on Thanksgiving/WC and rotate the teams within the league that will play those teams. It does not make sense to me to not hold the WC in cities where the interest level in the two teams would be high enough for it to be hosted but the national audience would not be high enough. If the formula is that the highest audience would always be brought by teams such as Pittsburgh, Detroit, Washington, then they should be in the game every year. That formula blows IMO. There would be enough people in cities such as Minneapolis, St. Louis, and I'll say it, San Jose, to make it happen in those places. But if that wouldn't bring in a high enough interest nationally, then why deviate from the teams that will bring the highest ratings?

Mandate cages. All injuries lessen.

Concur. Just saying that they are definitely not going to pass up the opportunity to introduce a new vintage jersey to sell merchandise. Also concur. I will be livid if 24/7 does not happen with the Wings. I am looking forward to it even more than the game in some respects. This is definitely going to be an action packed week with possibly the GLI and Alumni Game happening downtown before the actual Winter Classic in Ann Arbor. Definitely great over the Holiday Season. Will Stevie come back for the Alumni Game? Who else? Tie Domi for the Leafs? I imagine they will honor Vladdy in some way, and that will be great. Finally, Mods, could you please merge this with the other thread about UM/NHL in talks? If not, no big. Thanks a lot.

Thought they might bring back the 75th Anniversary for the Classic. My link