Its New Years Day, which can only mean one thing. It is time for the NHL Winter Cla sic. Hockeys newfound annual tradition has become the spectacle the NHL always hoped it would and has been both a winner in ticket sales, TV ratings and general exposure for the league. On a crowded day for sports, hockey has found a home.However, as the NHL increases the number of outdoor games each season and the leagues (or American TV rights holders) unwillingne s to stray too far from tried and true teams to include, we have to wonder if 2015 is the year the Winter Cla sic grows stale.There has been le s hype this year surrounding the event, but this being the seventh Winter Cla sic, that was bound to happen sooner or later. It doesn't nece sarily mean that's a bad thing. Relative to every other regular-season game on the schedule, this will still be the most watched. Last year's Winter Cla sic averaged 4.04 million viewers, and while this year is sure to be le s, it's going to still bring a ma sive amount of eyeballs the NHL's way.Much has been made of the matchup this year, with the and not being natural rivals or having much reason to play each other on this stage aside from one being great for ratings and the other being from the nations capital. Additionally, Nationals Park offers a beautiful stadium, but not much history. There seemingly is le s heat this year for the NHL's marquee regular-season event. Even if the matchup isnt as sexy as others could be, both teams tend to do well on TV and theres something moderately interesting about what the NHL has been doing with its litany of outdoor games and in choosing this matchup for the 2015 Winter Cla sic. These events have made money and theyre a big part of what has made the NHL more profitable in recent years.While the teams selected for these types of things remain safe, popular (and often Eastern-based) choices, this 2015 Winter Cla sic somewhat breaks the formula of what the NHL has used in previous Winter Cla sics.Everyone knows the gimmick now anyway. The games being outside is just unique enough to work. But that's all there really is to this latest Winter Cla sic. Theres no extra draw like a rivalry game or the historic element of the building like there was with Wrigley Field in 2009 or Fenway Park the following year. Or the sight of a hockey game played in front of 110,000 people like there was last year at Michigan Stadium. All of those Jerome Robinson Jersey games had a defined hook. This games hook is that its in Washington, D.C., but Nationals Park doesnt overlook the historic sites. The league had to build a fake Capitol Building inside the baseball stadium and will have players skate on a mock reflecting pool to the ice surface, which hopefully only sounds cheesier than it will actually be.The other things that go on surrounding the Cla sic as complimentary events are either non-existent or well short of attention grabbing. There was no alumni game this year like there had been for most other Winter Cla sics. That extra event has often added to the whole experience, bringing out heroes of years gone by as a nod to the people who have been the ones supporting the teams.There was no this year on HBO, which had become an event in itself. Though the league replaced it with a near-replica of the series on EPIX, there appeared to be far le s chatter and even fewer must-see moments. The league also didnt exactly bring in the A-list stars when it came to booking performers, which helps add on to an event that is more for show than it is for hockey. There's not enough seats to break attendance records. They wont have any snow. In fact, the game Trevor Ariza Jersey could be delayed because it will be too sunny.But maybe not having any of that is a good thing. Maybe this is the year where the hockey stands alone. When the puck drops, it will be on the players to grab and hold the viewers' attention with an entertaining game in a unique setting. There's enough star power on the ice to impre s the more casual sports fans that are just driving by hockey for the Winter Cla sic. remains one of the games biggest stars and one of its great showmen. s popularity is soaring to new heights as he puts together yet another tremendous season as the face of American hockey. is one of the games most respected players, while will have a national stage to show off his tremendous skills. The Winter Cla sic has never really been about hockey. Its been about the show. But what happens when the rest of the show isnt all that interesting? What happens when weve seen this enough before? Theres only one thing left this time and its the one thing that should matter most.The conditions are going to be about as good as theyve ever been for a Winter Cla sic. It wont be too cold, but it wont be all that warm. If the sun delays the game, it will be for the game's benefit. There should be fewer complaints about bad ice, there won't be exce sive snow and as long as the sun glare isn't too bad, there won't be obscured vision. The conditions are perfect to allow some of the games biggest stars to simply play a hockey game.There might not be as much hype, but there will be hockey and the league is about to find out if that is enough.
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