Connor Bedard Clowns Gary Bettman After Winter Classic Tragedy

The 2024 Winter Classic didn't quite live up to the NHL's expectations, setting a record-low viewership with 1.11 million tuning in across TNT and truTV. The lack of marketing and the smaller fanbases of the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights contributed to this decline, marking the first time the Winter Classic isn't the season's most-watched game.

Contrastingly, Connor Bedard's NHL debut brought in over 1.4 million viewers as the Chicago Blackhawks faced off against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby. Bedard's debut on ESPN became the most-watched regular-season NHL game ever on cable, excluding the Winter Classic.

With Bedard's impressive debut and the Winter Classic's historical significance, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman seems to be leaning toward the Blackhawks hosting the next Winter Classic. According to insider Elliotte Friedman

The Blackhawks, no strangers to outdoor games, have previously played in five, showcasing their appeal for such events. With Bedard leading the charge, the question now seems to be not if but when the Blackhawks will host another thrilling Winter Classic.

Source: Hockeypatrol

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