Why The NHL Should Chill Out With The Winter Classic

First of all I want to say I love the Winter Classic.  I watched both the Montreal-Edmonton and last year's Pittsburgh-Buffalo as well as the "Cold War" between Michigan and Michigan State.

The Buffalo-Pittsburgh had the exact storybook ending the league wanted-the whether you like it or not the face of the NHL, Sidney Crosby, scoring the goal in a shootout. Both games were great for the game and the league and even better for the fans.

However the NHL needs to learn how to not overdo a good thing.  The Winter Classic is like chocolate its great once in awhile but if you continue it on a consistent basis you will grow sick of it.

There was a four-year gap in between the "Heritage Classic" and the "AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic" which was huge for the NHL.  That game was also a huge success and paved the way for the Buffalo-Pittsburgh game.

But also while fans remembered the game they missed it. Most fans also loved the whole concept of playing outside and on basically a "pond" which many players and fans played on when they were kids. 

Despite the minus 22 temperature over 50,000 turned out in Edmonton.  For last year it was over 70,000 and 41,000 tickets sold out in 30 minutes.  Soon all the teams wanted their own outdoor games. 

But the key is although the stadiums will sell out the TV ratings will only contain hockey fans.  Non-hockey fans were drawn to watch the game by the mystique of actual NHL teams playing outside and/or the rarity of it.  But if it's on every year the casual hockey fan and non-hockey fans will not want to watch it. 

Then eventually even hockey fans will grow tired of the same thing every year.  The NHL should take a page from the Olympics, people love to see the teams and athletes but only every four years for each season. 

If the Olympics were held every year or two then the Olympics would lose their meaning and speciality which the Winter Classic needs to hold onto.  Otherwise it would just become a game that's played outdoors every year.

However as long as the NHL does what I am suggesting and chill with the Winter Classic they will have great success every time they play it.