FanPost

2015 Outdoor Games

As most of you may know by now, I am a big fan of the Marek vs. Wyshynski podcast. I would also be a big fan of a Pensburgh podcast (Hooks).

On their Friday the 15th episode, they touched on the subject of Ohio State hosting an outdoor game which of course would feature the Blue Jackets, and they said that the most logical choice is to have them play the Penguins. This would help fuel the flames of what Jeff Marek calls "the great burgeoning rivalry in the NHL east right now."

This is true, the seeds of a great rivalry is definitely already planted, and it can continue, but they also counter with the fact that it still needs some watering and Miracle Grow. One more meeting in the playoffs, and Columbus winning that playoff series, would make this a great rivalry and solidify it. But as of right now, it's just not there. Pittsburgh's Ohio rivalry is Cleveland, always has been. Sure, I personally hate everything about Ohio, but hey, that's just me. But this could turn into the hockey rivalry which helps the sport in general carve out its own identity even more.

A better suggestion was brought up by Wysh saying that the more logical option for a Ohio ice hockey club playing an outdoor game against any team from the state of Michigan. That rivalry doesn't need any help. I'm speaking of course about the Detroit Red Wings. A Red Wings- Blue Jackets outdoor game would write itself, not just because you have two of the three primary colors squaring off, but also do not forget the 2008-2009 season where the Wings swept the Jackets in what was Columbus' first playoff appearance in franchise history.

Which leads to the next point: how do you have a Winter Classic, or even a plain outdoor game for that matter, when one team's history is barely sniffing two decades?

Yes, the outdoor games are a gimmick at this point. It was something special, when the Penguins and Sabres met in Buffalo in that giant snow globe, but now... not so much. But that gimmick means, as Dwight Schrute would say, you put the best beets in the front, and the Penguins, if they're not one of the best teams, they're one of the best drawing teams, meaning audience and attention. I won't necessarily say I'm over outdoor games- well maybe in California I am- but involving the Penguins, I've had my share already. The organizational shakeup should be a good indicator of where the focus should be for this Penguins team, and that focus doesn't involve worrying about outdoor ice conditions.

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