5:00 p.m.: According to Brogan Houston of Deseret News Sports, the Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche in the 2027 Winter Classic, as predicted. As previously noted, it will be the Mammoth’s first outdoor game, whereas it’ll be Colorado’s fourth. Still, it’ll be the Avalanche’s first time playing in the Winter Classic, and their first as an ‘away’ team for an outdoor matchup.
10:05 a.m.: The NHL and Mammoth ownership are expected to announce an outdoor game awarded to the Utah franchise for next season, Frank Seravalli of Victory+ reports. With the Stars already announced as the host of a Stadium Series game in February 2027, it will likely be a Winter Classic game being hosted by the NHL’s newest franchise, although the league has opted for two Stadium Series events per year in the past.
Utah is one of five teams to never host an outdoor game, but they’re the only franchise to never have appeared in one, even if you opt to include the legally distinct Coyotes franchise in that definition. The Panthers were the last team with that designation, but can no longer lay claim to it after hosting the Winter Classic in Miami last week.
The league has historically shown a propensity to award special events to new franchises as soon as logistically possible. The Kraken hosted their closest expansion brethren, the Golden Knights, in the Winter Classic in just their third year of existence in 2023-24.
Just like Seattle, year three in Utah will mark the first time the Mammoth head outdoors. After next season, only the Canadiens, Ducks, and Golden Knights will be left without a hometown appearance – unless you prefer to count the 2021 Lake Tahoe games as a host contest for Vegas (they were technically the visiting team against the Avalanche). The Lightning haven’t hosted one yet either but have the Stadium Series on their home turf next month.
Tired, And old.
Over under on 500k views
Tough call. I’ll take the under
Bring back the old site look.
On the top of a mountain.
You know as a Kings fan it is built into my DNA to hate the Ducks but actually I feel bad to the franchise and their fans. Here is why.
They have never hosted a draft
They have never hosted the All Star Game
They have only opened the season at home 6 or 7 times
They have the fewest national tv games.
Never hosted an outdoor game and only played in one once
Got screwed in the draft lottery twice and lost Crosby and Bedard (rigged)
I am sure there are other things but just the disrespect the league shows this team and many other of the west coast based teams is sad.
NHL radio is a prime example. They only talk about. The defending champs Rangers. Flyers Leafs Penguins Red Wings Bruins. Those are the only teams that they mostly talk about. Hell the Leafs have their own show.
East coast bias has been a problem in sports for years. But has calmed down a little except in the NHL and ESPN and the Sunday Night Baseball matchups
Don’t feel too bad for the Ducks. They have been around for half the number of seasons that the Kings have, have more division titles, have played in only one fewer Cup finals than the Kings, and won a Cup five years prior to the Kings doing so. They will be okay.
Yea dont be such a Quack
Play Colorado. Also, how has Montreal not been awarded a home outdoor game yet
Technically, the Rangers haven’t either. All six ODR games they’ve played, they’ve been designated as the away team – even the ones in NY – because they have a property tax exemption that stipulates they must play all of their home games at Madison Square Garden. But that’s such a technicality that it’s not worth mentioning… were they really not the home team against the Sabres at Citi Field in 2018?