Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 Pittsbugh has already been in a Winter Classic. Fail. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 The NHL is a business first and foremost. While it sucks for the other teams that Pittsburgh is likely going to get another shot at it before the majority of the league gets shot number 1, its in the best interest of the league and NBC (I'm sure they had a say in what they want) to utilize Crosby and Ovechkin and the Penguins and the Capitals while they're each in their prime. I know I'd watch it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeymom1960 5,107 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 I think it should be the Pens/Wings so we can chant CROSBY SUCKS on national TV Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HockeyTownHouligan 57 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 All i know is that i wouldn't be watching it if it were the penguins and the caps. That's what the league wants screw them, its bull crap that they don't give their most valuable franchise a shot at it before double tapping the pens. I think the leafs should get a winter classic bid, that's where hockey started pens had their chance and won why give them another shot at it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kira 451 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 I like that idea. Minnesota and Dallas in Minnesota is a damned good idea. I'd watch that one. But Pittsburgh? Hell, no. I'd watch reruns of "It's Me or the Dog" first. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
henrik40 76 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 While I would like to see more exposure to either teams and don't like the idea of Pitt in another WC, I know I would still watch a Caps v. Pens matchup. Those who are saying they wouldn't... bulls***. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,803 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 Wings and Pens in the middle of some s***ty Detroit parking lot. Get it done, Bettman! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 Minnesota and Dallas would be fantastic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
softshoes 83 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 Would everyone be complaining if the Wings got another Winter Classic? Who the f*** are you to interject logic in a thread about the poster boy? That's a timeout mister. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Travis 576 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 I thought for sure that the Maple Leafs would be involved in the next Classic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CenterIce 83 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 I thought for sure that the Maple Leafs would be involved in the next Classic. There has been speculation that there will be two Winter Classics, because NBC does not want to carry a Canadian team. One would be two American teams; another would be two Canadian teams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
I Red Wings I 40 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 I'd like to see Ottawa and Toronto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 I'd like to see Ottawa and Toronto That will be one hell of a ratings draw in the US. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HelmerFan 28 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 Ovie vs Crosby... It's the easy road, a no brain automatic success. It is also what I would do even if it was the Pens 15th winter classic in a row. But hey, that's from a "I wanna make money" stand point and not a " I'm a Hockey fan" point of view. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grsbmd 0 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 I don't see how having the Penguins in another game is helping the league. The whole US hates Crosby after the Olympics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crashnburnluder 385 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 I will say this... I know they are trying to make this a big money ploy and all that jazz... but they sure as hell are doing one thing.... They are pissing off a large amount of regular and die hard fans of the NHL is a off chance they might pull in a couple more casual fans to root for the Penguins.... These teams are already so well known through out there area the draw on a casual fan is so small because they already know about the sport and the game and the rivalary... If you want to go after fans go after a market with young stars and promote the young stars in other areas... the Parise's the Duchene's, the Stamkos's no the guy that is on every commercial, every poster, and some how is talked about on every national broadcast game even if he is not even playing in the game... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 I don't see how having the Penguins in another game is helping the league. The whole US hates Crosby after the Olympics. And the whole US will be watching hoping to see him fall to this Ovechkin fella, who apparently stands for everything Crosby doesn't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IILeiBlazeII 15 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=315816 Apparently, TSN is reporting the high possibility as well. BS, says I. Biggest fair-weather fans in the world get to enjoy one of the coolest new things to happen to hockey twice before more deserving teams get it once? Wrong, wrong, wrong... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zion 93 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 Like it or not Caps/Pens is the biggest rivalry in the league right now, it has the two biggest stars and the games are always fun. You can't blame them for going with it from a marketing standpoint. Sure you can say the Rangers or Devils should get the chance.. but both are pretty boring teams. It's not the best way to show off the NHL. If every teams should get one go before anyone gets their 2nd, soon we'll have Nashville vs. Phoenix and matchups like that. Are you kidding me? That last game, before the shootout, was a pure snoozer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 Are you kidding me? That last game, before the shootout, was a pure snoozer. Wasn't Crosby's fault Ovechkin doesn't come to play and only cares about money and women. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superstarsingh 23 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 Would everyone be complaining if the Wings got another Winter Classic? The Wings have been showcased. Winter Classic, Sweden and they always have 4 slots on NBC. Yes, I would like them to play in another Winter Classic but I think other teams should have a shot at being in one before we see repeating teams. 1 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Uncle Danny 155 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 I know this will be an unpopular opinion here, but... I honestly can't think of a better matchup than this to market to the casual/new fan. To my mind, this is the most important thing the NHL can be doing, as a business. As much as I'd love to see players like Miller or Parise showcased, they just aren't a reason for casual fans to tune in at this point. If they really want to highlight young stars other than AO and Crosby, it has to start with marketing well in advance of the Winter Classic for these stars be a pull for new viewers/potential fans. Simply focusing on them during the broadcast doesn't really accomplish much, as people won't tune in on the strength of Zach Parise's Q score alone. As a hockey fan, of course there are other games I'd like to see: Montreal/Toronto, Detroit/Pittsburgh, Montreal/Boston, San Jose/Vancouver (sorry, I'm on the west coast ), New York/New Jersey and I LOVE the Dallas/Minnesota idea. But the fact is, none of them will draw major network ratings like Washington/Pittsburgh. That match-up is almost as widely appealing as the Wings/Avs rivalry in the late 90's. I also don't buy the idea that every team should be given a shot before a team is repeated. IMO, they should look at what will draw the most viewers and has the best storyline for showcase each season. Currently, unfortunately for many here, that match-up happens to involve Sid Crosby, his 2009 Cup winning Pens, Alexander Ovechkin and his likely 2010 President Trophy winning Caps. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DatsyukianDeke13 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 They should do Capitals @ Rangers IMO. They could play the game in the New Meadowlands Stadium they just built Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 In the end, it's a business. The Winter Classic is a big money maker for all concerned. And since the League is having a tougher time selling the sport of hockey in the US, there will be more American content in this game for a while. Now, about the TV ratings last year... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lidstrom for life 20 Report post Posted March 28, 2010 You would think the NHL would use this event to get people excited about hockey in a potentially big market like New York. I do understand that they want to promote the whole star power thing but it can backfire. What is going to happen to the ratings of the SCF if the devils or sabres win the east? Casual sports fans know nothing about those two teams because all they see is Crosby and Ovechkin. And also you would think they would want to promote more American players like Parise. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
