In the NHL, the 2020s have been dominated by the Sunshine State. Between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers, teams from Florida have won four of the last six Stanley Cups and at least one of them has appeared in the Stanley Cup Final every year since the start of the decade. Given that level of success, it’s not surprising that the NHL has chosen to reward both franchises with its two premier outdoor events—the Winter Classic and the Stadium Series.

That said, while the logic is understandable, the execution is flawed. The league made a mistake by allowing both teams to host those events—particularly the Winter Classic.

Tampa Bay’s early decade dominance

The early part of the 2020s belonged to the Lightning, who reached three straight Stanley Cup Finals and won back-to-back Stanley Cups. Their run began in 2020, when Tampa Bay defeated the Dallas Stars in six games to capture its second championship in franchise history and its first since 2004.

That Final, however, was anything but traditional. It was played inside the NHL Bubble at Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 🇨🇦. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference’s early-round games were held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto 🇨🇦.

In the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning faced the Montreal Canadiens—a matchup that normally wouldn’t be possible, as both teams play in the Atlantic Division. Due to the modified playoff format during the 2020–21 season because of the lingering effects from the COVID-19 pandemic,, the series became reality, and Tampa Bay dispatched Montreal in five games to secure its second consecutive Cup.

The Bolts’ quest for a three-peat ended in 2022 when the Colorado Avalanche defeated them in six games to capture their first Stanley Cup since 2001.

The Panthers take the torch

Once Tampa Bay’s run came to an end, the Florida Panthers began their own ascent. That rise didn’t start smoothly, as the Panthers fell in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion franchise that joined the NHL in 2018. Vegas won the series in five games, punctuated by a dominant 9–3 victory in Game 5 on home ice.

The 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Finals featured the same matchup: the Edmonton Oilers versus the Florida Panthers, quickly turning into a modern rivalry. In 2024, Edmonton came within one win of completing a historic comeback after falling behind 3–0 in the series, but Florida held on for a dramatic 2–1 Game 7 victory to capture its first Stanley Cup. The Panthers originally joined the NHL for the 1993–94 season.

The two teams met again in 2025, and while the result was the same, the drama was dialed back. Florida won the series in six games to claim its second consecutive championship.

As of  Jan. 29,  the Lightning sit atop the Atlantic Division with a record of 34–14–4 (72 points) while the Panthers occupy sixth place at 28–21–3 (59 points). If the season ended today, Tampa Bay would be in the Stanley Cup Playoffs while the defending back-to-back champions would be on the outside looking in.

Given the recent dominance displayed by both franchises, it makes complete sense that the NHL would want to showcase them on marquee stages, but the Winter Classic and Stadium Series are not the right stages.

The Winter Classic problem

The Panthers hosted the New York Rangers in the 2026 Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park, home of MLB’s Miami Marlins, in Miami, FL. While the stadium features a retractable roof—and the roof was open during the game—the setting simply didn’t align with what the Winter Classic is supposed to represent.

To make matters worse for the home crowd, the Rangers spoiled the festivities altogether. New York defeated Florida 5–1, turning what was meant to be a celebratory moment for the Panthers into a one-sided loss. Rangers center Mika Zibanejad stole the spotlight, recording the first hat trick in Winter Classic history with three goals on hockey’s most nostalgic stage.

The NHL has already announced that the 2027 Winter Classic will take place at Rice–Eccles Stadium, home of the Utah Utes, in Salt Lake City, UT, and it will feature the Colorado Avalanche against the hometown Utah Mammoth. That is a proper Winter Classic setting: mountain foothills, cold air, and the real possibility of snow.

Recent history reinforces that identity of what the Winter Classic should look and feel like:

  • 2025: Wrigley Field — Blues vs. Blackhawks
  • 2024: T-Mobile Park — Golden Knights vs. Kraken
  • 2023: Fenway Park — Penguins vs. Bruins
  • 2022: Target Field — Blues vs. Wild
  • 2021: Canceled due to the pandemic
  • 2020: Cotton Bowl — Predators  vs. Stars
  • 2019: Notre Dame Stadium — Bruins vs. Blackhawks
  • 2018: Citi Field – Rangers vs Sabres
  • 2017: Busch Stadium – Blackhawks vs. Blues
  • 2016: Gillette Stadium— Montreal Canadiens vs Bruins

Despite its warmer climate, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas still felt like a proper Winter Classic because it was held outdoors. The state of Florida does not fit the criteria for a Winter Classic. There’s nothing wrong with the Panthers playing in the Winter Classic, but hosting it crosses a line the NHL didn’t need to cross.

The Stadium Series fits Florida better

Last season, the Columbus Blue Jackets hosted the Detroit Red Wings in the Stadium Series at Ohio Stadium, better known as The Horseshoe. The 2024 Stadium Series was held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and featured Rangers–Islanders and Flyers–Devils. The 2023 Stadium Series took place at Carter–Finley Stadium in Raleigh, NC, and it festered the Washington Capitals—Carolina Hurricanes while the 2022 edition was held at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN and it featured the Lightning—Predators.

Even the 2014 Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium—featuring the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks in Los Angeles—proved that warmer climates can work within this format. That’s why the Stadium Series being held in Tampa Bay makes far more sense than hosting a Winter Classic in Miami.

Florida has earned its place at the center of the NHL’s modern era. Between the Lightning’s dynasty run and the Panthers’ back-to-back championships, the Sunshine State has become one of hockey’s true power centers. The league is right to reward that success with marquee events and national exposure.

But not every reward fits every stage.

The Winter Classic isn’t just another outdoor game—it’s a celebration of hockey’s roots, its grit, and its unmistakable winter identity. Snow, cold air, and frozen breath are part of the experience, not optional accessories. Miami may be a hockey town now, but it will never be a Winter Classic town.

Let Florida host the Stadium Series. Let the Panthers shine on hockey’s biggest stages. Just don’t blur the line between honoring success and abandoning tradition—because once the Winter Classic loses its winter, it loses what makes it special.