Top 10 Future Sites and Matchups of the NHL Winter Classic

It seems each holiday, you think of a sport that it is associated with—football on Thanksgiving and basketball on Christmas. But now, it's not just college football on New Year's Day. 

While the Winter Classic wasn't played on New Year's Day this year, hockey is starting to become more and more of an associated thought to the first holiday of the year. The Winter Classic sparks more interest in hockey each year, which is why it is very important to choose the right site and matchup.

After Monday's heart-racing fifth anniversary, it will be a tough act to follow.

So without further ado, these are my picks for where hockey's most beloved game should head next.

10. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Matchup: Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks

While this obviously isn't the NHL's first choice, hockey in California is widely misunderstood. While the Ducks are having an off year, the Kings continue to sell out the vast majority of their home games as they start to rise as a team. With this matchup, hockey would be exposed more to Californians, students and the West Coast as a whole.

9. Lambeau Field

Matchup: Detroit Red Wings vs. Minnesota Wild

This one is a little shaky, considering the fact that there currently isn't and never has been an NHL team that has called Wisconsin home. Regardless of this fact, Wisconsin loves hockey and has shown strong support for the high school and college programs that keep Wisconsin hockey alive. With this matchup, the NHL in Milwaukee would become a strong possibility. And what would be better than to play it in the most historical NFL stadium still standing? The Winter Classic in Green Bay would be a home run for the NHL.

8. Safeco Field

Matchup: Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks

This one is another one that is questionable, because it is technically a neutral site. As stated above, this is another game that would spark more hockey interest in a state lacking an NHL team—Washington. And, not to mention, featuring one of the most recent and heated rivalries in the regular season's biggest game would definitely be a big hit among NHL fans.

7. Target Field

Matchup: Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars

Without thinking about it, seeing this matchup on paper seems quite boring. Considering the history, however, this would be a great game to refresh the heritage of the NHL. This game would pit the Dallas Stars, who once called Minnesota home as the North Stars, and the franchise that has taken over Minnesota since. While the Wild are a new team, this game would definitely fuel some enthusiasm in hockey lovers throughout North America

6. Busch Stadium

Matchup: St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks

While many overlook this rivalry, since St. Louis was granted an expansion team, the Blues and the Blackhawks have been fierce rivals. The two teams always bring a physical, hard-played game when playing against each other, and always entertain a sell-out crowd. Since Chicago has already hosted one, it would be nice to see this intense rivalry garner more exposure.

5. Coors Field

Matchup: Colorado Avalanche vs. Detroit Red Wings

Ten years ago, this rivalry was top-crop in the NHL. These two teams were always at the top of the Western Conference, and a playoff series between the two would usually lead to an exciting, high-octane matchup. Putting the Winter Classic in one of the nicer MLB stadiums and attempting to revive what is now somewhat of a lost rivalry would be great for the NHL.

4. Yankee Stadium

Matchup: New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils

Interstate rivals. Battle of the Jersey Turnpike. Whatever you want to call it, it's merely inevitable that these two teams do not like each other. Their proximity, counteracting success, and very rabid fans contribute to the rivalry, but putting the two under the spotlight for a Winter Classic would be great.

3. Michigan Stadium

Matchup: Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

More than 74,500 people packed Michigan Stadium in 2001 as the hockey teams from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan squared off in a game that came to be called "the Cold War." After hosting the Cold War, it would be an absolute sellout if the two Original 6 rivals were reunited under snowfall in Ann Arbor. The game would revive a Red Wings-Maple Leafs rivalry, and would be truly outstanding to watch.

2. Fenway Park

Matchup: Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens

This will apply to what my choice is for the best future site for the Winter Classic as well, but it is a shame that the NHL isn't considering Canadian teams—and in this case—didn't get it right the first time. Instead of playing the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway— which, don't get me wrong, was a fantastic game—the NHL should have played the biggest rivalry in hockey at baseball's most beloved ballpark. The revenue would be monumental, and the game would be exciting to watch.

1. Wrigley Field

Matchup: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Unlike my second pick, I think the NHL made the best choice possible for the first Wrigley Field game. But shall the Winter Classic roll back to Wrigley, in a heartbeat, it should be the Toronto Maple Leafs chosen as the visitors. A rivalry that was intense and heart-stopping from the inception of both franchises until the realignment in the mid-1990s, this game would bring back fans of both teams in a beautiful venue. It doesn't have the glamour of the "rivalry" between the Pittsburgh Penguins or the Washington Capitals, or any other individual highlighted matchup. It's about watching how the game was born and being able to witness that game in a beautiful city, with two teams that will fight tooth and nail until the end. It would would be exactly what the name implies: a classic.