#9: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins (1/1/19, 1 pm)
Preseason Rank (out of 13): 7
‘Flex’ Game: Washington Capitals vs. Nashville Predators (12/31/18)
This year’s Winter Classic was already looking quite pedestrian, but the aforementioned struggles of Chicago make it so uninteresting that even the spectacle of the outdoor game cannot save it. As such, it drops from its preseason position.
Even as somebody who still appreciates (and is not yet tired of) the outdoor craze, the constant inclusion of the Blackhawks in the Winter Classic has taken something out of it for me. The Boston Bruins are a good team, but not interesting enough to save this.
Because this is a special occasion, however, I cheated a bit when considering the flex game. Still, while it is technically coming the day before, wouldn’t a Winter Classic between Washington and Nashville be both fresh and special?
The two teams are amongst the best in the league, and represent the success of the NHL in non-traditional markets. This is the kind of game the Winter Classic should be trying to promote, not the same Original Six matches involving a declining team.
#8: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Washington Capitals (1/20/19, 12:30 pm)
Preseason Rank: 10
‘Flex’ Game: New York Islanders vs. Anaheim Ducks
The only reason this game has moved up from its preseason ranking is because the games behind it look even worse. Plus, the Washington Capitals are in the midst of another extremely good season where they look like legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
That being said, you will have a tough time convincing me to watch any game containing the Chicago Blackhawks, even one featuring the defending champions. As such, this game is still in the bottom half of the NHL on NBC schedule.
To make matters worse, this is a pretty weak day in the NHL schedule, with the best alternative being this Islanders-Ducks matchup. It’s not exactly the most riveting choice for a national broadcast, but at least both teams are in the midst of their respective playoff races.
#7: Nashville Predators vs. St. Louis Blues (2/10/19, 12:30 pm)
Preseason Rank: 3
‘Flex’ Game: Boston Bruins vs. Colorado Avalanche
Other than the game ranked dead last in this countdown, no match has fallen further in my eyes than this one, which I foolishly believed could be a legitimate contender for match of the year. Sadly, with how awful the Blues look, I no longer harbor any confidence in this.
It is still nice to see a team like the Nashville Predators getting a national broadcast; the franchise and its great fans deserve it. It is a shame that their opponents are so poor as to drag down the quality of this game.
To make matters worse, both Winnipeg and Colorado, the two other contenders from the division, are in action against playoff-bound teams on this day, facing Buffalo and Boston, respectively. Any combination of those four teams with Nashville would make for a much better game here.
Either of those matches could be flexed into a national broadcast, although I would personally elect for the Boston-Colorado one. It may be the more competitive and “playoff-like” than the other, although both are massive upgrades over Nashville-St. Louis.