The NHL played an outdoor game and the Blackhawks weren’t in it

It has been over two years since the Chicago Blackhawks’ last outdoor game in South Bend against the Boston Bruins, and I will admit, it is nice to watch other teams lose outdoors instead of the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks lead the NHL with the most outdoor games played at six, but next up on the list is Pittsburgh and Philadelphia close behind at five, then Detriot Montreal New York and Boston at four.

Playing in six outdoor games before some teams have played one might seem absurd, but the Chicago Blackhawks at the time pulled one of the biggest markets around, and they were a good team. During their time winning championships with Toews and Kane at the top of their games, Chicago played in six outdoor games from 2009 through 2019, and it is going to be a while before the team gets outdoors again.

During the outdoor games this past weekend, the NHL showed a diagram showing the top five players who have played in the most outdoor games. The leader was James van Riemsdyk who has been in seven with Philadelphia and Toronto, but right up after him was Kane, Keith, Seabrook, and Toews, who have been in six all with Chicago.

The Chicago Blackhawks are going to be waiting a while before they play outdoors again.

This is not the Blackhawks league anymore. Chicago was running things for a long time when they were winning championships and having four or five players go to the all-star game every season. Now the ‘Hawks are more focused on the future, and that is alright.

The most recent outdoor games in Lake Tahoe were fun to watch, and the environment was a beautiful change that was breathtaking. Here are the highlights from the Golden Knights / Avalanche game if you missed out on Saturday’s big game.

At least the Blackhawks did have a few former players play this past weekend outdoors. Brandon Saad with Colorado and Erik Gustafsson with Philadelphia both played in the event. How many years do you think the Blackhawks will have to wait until they are back outdoors? I am thinking it is going to take until at least 2024.