Winter Classic '10: Boston?

Well for the 2nd year in a row, the NHL Winter Classic was a success. This time it matched up two division rivals in the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. The success of last year's thrilling shootout between the Penguins and Sabres undoubtedly sold this to hockey and sport fans in general that this is going to be annual. Althogh the Red Wings went on an easy 6-4 victory, improving to 4-0-0 against Chicago the overwhelming feeling amongst NHL fans and executives is that they've hit it big with this.


Which brings us to this; If the NHL wants to keep raking in revenue through the Winter Classic they'll need to find a game for next year. Which jumpstarts me to my next point; the 2010 Winter Classic would be absolutely perfect for the Boston Bruins and the city of Boston. The Hub Of Hockey is currently going through a revival of love for their Black and Gold and no setting would be more pefect for this than Fenway Park. Simply put: The Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens live at Fenway Park should be (and if I had to guess will be) the 2010 Winter Classic.


An ideal match-up at an ideal location is the best way to describe this. The Bruins and Canadiens have a long and storied history. Although history is not kind to the Boston Bruins, who have met the Canadiens a record 31 times in NHL post-season history have only won their series 6 times the feeling is different. Last April Bruins fans were given a sample of what this team can do as they took Montreal to 7 games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals; although Boston was dismantled 5-0 in Game 7 the feel was that they weren't going to be Montreal's punching bag anymore. This message has rang true this year as the Bruins are 2-0-1 against Montreal this year with their 4th meeting coming in 2 weeks.


Not only do these teams dislike one another, the fans have had their battles as well. The Canadiens fans are similar to Red Sox fans in the idea that they'll travel just about anywhere to see their team; this includes Boston. For several years now many French-Canadiens have made their trek to Boston for a game and have often left celebrating yet another Montreal win. This has left Boston fans with an increasingly bitter taste in their mouth and even more of a disdain for Canadiens hockey. This game would undoubtedly attract several Montreal fans who would pay whatever costs necesary to see this game. We however can't forget that Bruins fans would also feel an overwhelmingly sense of this game being a "must see" and would love to see their Black and Gold play on what's practically considered sacred ground: Fenway Park.


This game would also make sense for the NHL's marketing team. Wrigley Field's nice and all, but can you imagine seeing a game from the Green Monster or on the Budweiser right field deck seats? I mean c'mon, who wouldn't love seeing a Green-Monster-Camera replay after every goal? Profits for this stretch past the NHL as the Boston Red Sox ownership has been doing all they can to attract visitors and other events besides baseball games to showcase their stadium. The potiental profit company's could make off this game is unreal.


What's a better story than the youth of Chicago though? Simple: the return of hard hitting and goal scoring in Boston. Now that there's an enjoyable product on the ice with their new style of play and excitement the city and NHL is buzzing about the B's. Players would love it, fans would love it, the Boston and Montreal media would love it. This (black and) gold mine is there for taking, hopefully the NHL doesn't miss this opportunity.