Top-Five Potential Future Winter Classic Matchup Ideas

So far we’ve seen the Pittsburgh Penguins face off against the Buffalo Sabres and the Detroit Red Wings take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Now that the 2009 Winter Classic is over with, fans are left wondering:

Who could be potential future matchups?

Before you can really start to make a list, you need to think about what goes in to a good Winter Classic game.

Rivalry is the most important feature in my opinion. Having two rival teams going against each other in the cold outdoors seems almost...fitting.

How about “old Vs new”?

I would love to see a matchup between the Dallas Stars and their old home-town “new team” Minnesota Wild. While these two teams may not have a rivalry, this game would provide plenty of excitement for fans.

So here’s my list of top five Winter Classic games I would like to see.

1. Dallas Stars @ Minnesota Wild. This gets No. 1 for two reason: 1) I'm slightly biased, being a Stars fan, but more importantly 2) because up in Minnesota, people still talk about how the Stars turned their back on the fans. Crazy, I know, but for fans, this game could be huge.
2. Montreal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs. Is there a bigger rivalry?
3. Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers. The Winter Classic has seen Sid the kid, now it’s time to introduce it to Ovy.
4. New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins. A classic matchup if there ever was one.
5. Philadelphia Flyers @ Pittsburgh Penguins. The battle of Pennsylvania.

Gary Bettman and the NHL seem keen on focusing on the US teams for the Winter Classic, possibly in a hope to increase ratings within the US. While I understand the logic here, I do disagree with it. The Habs vs. Leafs game would be fantastic to watch, even for fans of other teams.