Outdoor hockey games are special to the players. It offers as a chance for the players to take them back to their childhood of playing outside in the cold.
Since the NHL first started playing outdoors, the Ottawa Senators have played in two games. The first one was in 2014 at the Heritage Classic against the Vancouver Canucks. The second one was at the NHL 100 Classic against the Montreal Canadiens in 2017.
Eight years without playing in an outdoor game is long enough, but the potential idea of having the Senators play in another outdoor game may need to be given some thought after news was announced last week.
Senators need to be potential opponent for next Heritage Classic
The NHL Heritage Classic hasn't happened since October 2023 when the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers clashed outdoors. Next season, the Heritage Classic will return.
Last week, Elliotte Friedman revealed that Winnipeg, Manitoba, is near the top of the list for the NHL to host the event. If that's the case, the Winnipeg Jets would be the home team for the game.
A game against the Senators may offer as a unique chance for the NHL to give smaller Canadian market teams to put on a good game.
With the recent Heritage Classic game being between the Flames and Oilers, the chances the NHL has the Jets face one of those two teams can be low. The Toronto Maple Leafs also played in the 2022 Heritage Classic, so that team could be out as well.
That leaves the Senators, Canucks and Canadiens left if the NHL was to do a Canadian Heritage Classic if the NHL doesn't want to an American team. When the Maple Leafs played in the 2022 Heritage Classic, they played the Buffalo Sabres.
With the Canadiens playing in four outdoor games, the Canucks missing out on the 2025 playoffs, the Senators may offer as a solid team to play in the next Heritage Classic if the NHL is serious about Winnipeg hosting. Giving a team like the Senators a chance to play in more outdoor games with a playoff contending team may be fair for the NHL to schedule the Senators against the Jets.
The only thing left is to wait and see when the NHL decides to announce which two teams will play and where the game will be played for the next Heritage Classic game next season.