Each year, one of the highlights of the NHL calendar is the Winter Classic. The series, which began in 2008, features teams playing in the outdoor stadium of another sport, usually baseball. Taking place on New Year’s Day almost every year, the event often draws the biggest TV ratings of any regular-season NHL game.
That is, until this year. A somewhat lackluster event in terms of TV ratings still drew an average of well over one million viewers, but that number was only good for the second-highest of the regular-season games. The first? Connor Bedard’s rookie debut on October 10th.
The 18-year-old superstar is must-watch TV, and it seems the NHL has taken notice. Thanks to his presence, the Blackhawks are now a “frontrunner” to host next year’s Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, according to NBC Sports, with the Blues as their potential opponent.
Putting the Blackhawks in the Winter Classic makes sense for more reasons than just Bedard being there. An article from The Hockey News said it best:
“The NHL likes its marquee in-season spectacle to feature tradition-laden teams from big TV markets.”
- The Hockey News
Contests like 2019’s Blackhawks-Bruins game draw better ratings, with both teams playing in huge markets. Additionally, holding the event in stadiums like Wrigley Field or Fenway Park makes for must-watch TV. Holding the event in Wrigley next year and featuring the game’s biggest young star on an Original Six franchise is just what the NHL needs to rebound from an off year in Seattle.
The Blackhawks already have four appearances in the 15 iterations of the event, a number that’s tied for the most of any team. However, Chicago has yet to pick up a win, falling short in 2009, 2015, 2017, and 2019. Is 2025 the year they break the curse?
The NHL is expected to announce the news sometime in the next few weeks. The 2024 edition was announced on the day of 2023’s game, and 2023 was announced on February 4, 2022. Primarily thanks to Bedard, the Blackhawks can expect to hear some good news soon.
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