Winter Classics: From the Bronx To Fenway

The NHL's marketing and promotion gets knocked around more than Sergei Brylin in the corners, so it's a relief to be able to give the League credit where it's due. By refusing to formally commit to another Winter Classic, even as the wave of success from the inaugural edition was cresting, Commissioner Gary Bettman has created a cottage industry of municipal optimism: Chicago wants a Winter Classic at Solider Field or Wrigley Field, Detroit wants an oxymoronic Winter Classic inside Ford Field, and the Rangers want to close out Yankee Stadium with a Winter Classic in New York.

That last idea has been kicking around for a bit, but it has found new life this week as the Daily News reported that momentum to finalize a deal for a Yankee Stadium Winter Classic is building. Now the scuttlebutt has shifted to potential opponents for the Blueshirts. The Daily News reports today that Lou Lamoriello "will exercise his considerable influence at the league level" to try and get the Devils into the game. Chris Chelios made waves yesterday when he told the media he "heard Detroit's playing" in the Yankee Stadium Classic. But the most interesting news was made by Steve Zipay of Newsday; although the Islanders are fighting to give the Classic total Big Apple flavor, there might be a chance for the NHL to share a little of that Yankees/Red Sox magic:

The Islanders may be the odd team out, Newsday has learned, because the Red Sox and Bruins have been lobbying heavily for a Bruins-Rangers game at Fenway Park. One plan on the table would be to have the Rangers and Bruins play Jan. 1 in the Bronx and the following year in Boston in a home-and-home series.

Unless you're some killjoy who doesn't think hockey should close out The House That Ruth Built, I think the debate is over: There's no better Winter Classic option for Yankee Stadium than New York vs. Boston, even if there isn't a back-end at Fenway in 2010. All due respect to the Islanders and Devils, but the national ratings for the Subway Series sucked for a reason. Save the Red Wings for a game in Chicago, save the Flyers for a game against Pittsburgh in Happy Valley. And save the announcement for the next Winter Classic until the Draft this summer -- right in the middle of baseball season.