2015 NHL Stadium Series

Media Reports

Nick Cotsonika, Yahoo Sports, on Jan. 24 quoted league COO John Collins as saying the NHL will have "definitely less than six" outdoor games in 2014-15.

One of those games could go to Glendale, Ariz. — who will also be hosting Super Bowl XIX next winter — according to The Canadian Press. Another may be held at Gillette Stadium between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, says Chris Botta.

Ad Age reported Jan. 29 that Stadium Series sponsor Coors is lobbying the NHL to stage a game at Coors Field. The NHL said Denver is being considered.

In addition, Hockey Buzz reported Dec. 22 that St. Louis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, San Jose and Tampa were also candidates to host an outdoor game. The San Jose rumor got more juice when David Pollak, San Jose Mercury News, tweeted Jan. 24 about three outdoor venues the Sharks are looking into.

The Upshot

Regardless of what Coyotes owner Anthony LeBlanc tweeted — which may or may not have been tongue-in-cheek — Arizona seems like a good bet for a game. He'll be looking to do as much as possible to generate new excitement around his team next season. (Maybe they can host the Stars?)

Boston and Montreal seem like better foes for a Winter Classic battle in, say, 2017 for the NHL's 100th anniversary. So I'm hoping everybody can just hold their horses on that. And if, as the NHL says, the Stadium Series is more about looking forward, perhaps some of the non-traditional markets might be better fits anyway.

I'm not one to blindly trust Eklund, but it would be great to see San Jose and St. Louis host games, perhaps against the Avalanche and Wild, respectively. Though it would also be fun to see one in the Rockies.

And speaking personally, I'd love to watch a game between the Lightning and Panthers at Raymond James Stadium or — in a clever twist — Tropicana Field, the indoor venue in St. Petersburg where the Bolts played from 1993 to 1996 when it was called the ThunderDome.

That gets me thinking. Were the Lightning actually the first NHL team to play in a baseball stadium? Anyone know?