Power rankings: Take it outdoors …

The success that last week's Winter Classic at Wrigley Field enjoyed has cemented the New Year's outdoor game as a burgeoning tradition in the NHL, an event teams throughout the league are lining up to host.

Obviously there are some landmark venues that will draw serious attention next – Fenway Park in Boston, Yankee Stadium in New York are two – but almost every team has a site near its home that's an option.

The theme for this week's power rankings – which appear each Tuesday – delves into where each team could host a Winter Classic, even if some of the destinations are tongue-in-cheek.

1.Detroit Red Wings (26-7-5, Previous: 3) – Before the NHL was brave enough to venture outdoors, Michigan State did it in 2001 and that's where the Red Wings should head next. Make it an NHL/USCH doubleheader with Michigan facing Michigan State on New Year's Eve and Detroit squaring off against Toronto on New Year's Day at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich.

2.San Jose Sharks (29-4-5, Previous: 2) – Love the idea of playing a game at Alcatraz, but seriously, the best options in the San Francisco area are either AT&T Park (where the Giants play baseball) or the recently reconfigured Stanford football stadium, which features a bit more of an intimate setting than before. Anaheim is probably the most fitting opponent.

3.Boston Bruins (29-6-4, Previous: 1) – Seeing how well it worked in baseball's second oldest park on Thursday, it's only natural to go into the oldest facility – Fenway Park – where the Bruins could host either the Rangers or Canadiens. One problem, there might be construction issues getting in the way next January, so how's about Yale Bowl?

4.Washington Capitals (26-11-3, Previous: 5) – The baseball team's new stadium – Nationals Park – seats 41,888 for baseball. That should certainly be ample for a big hockey event, and should provide television viewers with those classic nearby historic shots the network will like. How about the Capitals vs. the Penguins? It's just too hard to pass up an opportunity to feature Ovechkin vs. Crosby.

5.Montreal Canadiens (22-10-6, Previous: 4) – So what ever happened to Olympic Stadium since baseball's Expos vacated and moved to Washington, D.C.? Well, it's still standing in Montreal, and the 56,000-seat facility still plays host to special events. One problem, the last roof installed in '99 is permanent and non-retractable. They'll have to blow a hole in that ceiling to make it quasi-outdoors again. Let's book the Habs and Ottawa Senators in there, and they'll still be turning away fans at the door.

6.Philadelphia Flyers (21-10-8, Previous: 9) – Hold off on that demolition of the old Philly Spectrum. Just remove the roof and let the Flyers host the Bruins in a rematch of the 1974 Finals that provided Philadelphia with its first Stanley Cup.

7.New Jersey Devils (23-12-3, Previous: 10) – Hey, the Devils are always playing second fiddle to the Rangers so it's only natural New Jersey invades new Shea Stadium (we refuse to call it Citi Field) for a game against the Avalanche. Why Colorado? That's where the Devils played from 1976-82 after two seasons in Kansas City.

8.Calgary Flames (23-12-4, Previous: 8) – We're looking at a little bit of a challenge here, but what's the possibility of constructing a smaller outdoor rink in the gorgeous vacation spot of nearby Banff? If it's possible, invite Alberta rival Edmonton up for a little shinny.

9.New York Rangers (24-14-3, Previous: 7) – This is a no-brainer, Rangers vs. Bruins at Yankee Stadium, new or old. If Fenway is unavailable next January, our money is on this matchup and the venue in The Bronx ranking as the early leader in the clubhouse.

10.Chicago Blackhawks (21-8-7, Previous: 6) – Hey, despite the downer of an outcome for the hosts, Wrigley Field put on quite the show on Thursday, cementing the league's newest spectacle as an annual event for years to come. The bad news for the Blackhawks is they move to the end of the line.

11.Carolina Hurricanes (20-15-5, Previous: 15) – The North Carolina Speedway enables the NHL to play inside the oval and draw a big crowd. Invite Edmonton, the team Carolina beat for the 2006 Stanley Cup.

12.Anaheim Ducks (20-15-5, Previous: 14) – It's too easy, right? The Ducks go back to their Disney roots and play in a makeshift rink at nearby Disneyland. Of course, there is no rink there, but given enough time to prepare, Disney certainly has the imagination, not to mention the necessary funds, to make it happen. The opponent has to be the Devils, once called a Mickey Mouse organization by Wayne Gretzky.

13.Vancouver Canucks (21-15-5, Previous: 13) – We'll have to be a little creative here since there's not a lot of outdoor venues that could host such an event, but what about somewhere in the Olympic Village for the upcoming 2010 Games? There couldn't be a prettier setting than an outdoor rink in nearby Whistler. Think Mystery, Alaska. And along those lines, invite the N.Y. Rangers to play the Canucks in a repeat of the 1994 Finals.

14.Edmonton Oilers (19-16-3, Previous: 12) – Like the Blackhawks, the Oilers have had their chance. The inaugural regular-season outdoor game – Heritage Classic in November of 2003 – was hosted at Commonwealth Stadium (CFL home of the Edmonton Eskimos) where it was far too cold for anything outdoors, including hockey. The next time the Oilers play host, have the game set for opening night so it at least has a chance to not be ridiculously frigid.

15.Buffalo Sabres (19-15-5, Previous: 17) – Like the Oilers and Blackhawks, the Sabres are certainly not under consideration for any outdoor spectacle soon since they are recent hosts. The 2008 game at Ralph Wilson Stadium really got the momentum started for this annual event and that's a fact that shouldn't be forgotten, along with the great snow globe effect viewers had throughout thanks to the timely light dropping.

16.Pittsburgh Penguins (19-17-4, Previous: 11) – Despite their participation in last year's Winter Classic, the Penguins could still be in fairly high demand, and a logical destination for them to host is venture into Happy Valley and host the Flyers at Beaver Stadium on the campus of Penn State at State College, Pa.

17.Dallas Stars (17-16-5, Previous: 19) – How 'bout them Cowboys? That hole in the roof of Texas Stadium is just enough to qualify the home of America's Team as an outdoor venue. A game against the Oilers would be fun after all the times the two have matched up in the spring. They might as well see each other in the dead of winter, too.

18.Minnesota Wild (19-16-3, Previous: 20) – Certainly a game of pond hockey on one of those 10,000 frozen lakes in the state would be fun, but there's no seating so we'll have to settle for a contest inside the new football stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota (and no, it is not a dome). The natural opponent is the Dallas Stars, whose roots are traced to Minnesota where they were the expansion North Stars.

19.Phoenix Coyotes (19-16-5, Previous: 18) – Good thing the league has its own refrigeration truck because now a game in the warmer climes is actually possible. The Valley of the Sun is filled with a number of minor-league ballparks that could work, although there's not much seating. Oh wait, these are the Coyotes, they're not used to much home attendance anyhow. Let's make it an exhibition against the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

20.Columbus Blue Jackets (18-17-4, Previous: 22) – Take the game to the giant horseshoe of Ohio Stadium on the campus of nearby Ohio State University. The Blue Jackets' natural rivals? … Don't everyone raise your hands at once. … Bueller?

21.Florida Panthers (17-16-6, Previous: 21) – Dolphin Stadium would make a nice spot with the contrast of cold ice, a warm breeze and palm trees (yes, the league can keep ice frozen in warm climes). This probably needs to be a rivalry game so the Lightning and Panthers can build up as much hate for each other as possible.

22.Colorado Avalanche (19-19-1, Previous: 16) – Coors Field is one of the better baseball venues around the majors. It would certainly provide a fine setting for a game much like the one at Wrigley. Great views of the surrounding snow-capped vistas as well. Detroit is still the most widely recognized rival, but Florida provided the opponent for the first Cup in '96, so bring on the Panthers.

23.Los Angeles Kings (16-16-6, Previous: 23) – Roll the dice and travel about four hours down the road to Las Vegas. It's been done before, the Kings played the Rangers in an exhibition in the fall of 1991 in the parking lot of Caesars Palace. Pick a major hotel and do it again, this time against the Ducks.

24.Toronto Maple Leafs (16-17-6, Previous: 27) – The Leafs wouldn't have to go far to play outdoors in nearby Rogers Centre, home of baseball's Blue Jays. The biggest question would be who should provide the opposition, either the Canadiens or the Senators?

25.Tampa Bay Lightning (11-18-10, Previous: 25) – Tampa Stadium (now named Raymond James Stadium) poses similar drawing points and challenges as Dolphin Stadium – a warm climate and picturesque sight lines. Well, at least you can make the fans in Canada jealous. The opponent has to be the Panthers.

26.St. Louis Blues (15-21-3, Previous: 26) – Since you can't fit bleachers and a rink under The Arch, the next best thing is move it a couple blocks away in the middle of new Busch Stadium. You'll have the same great sight lines to the Gateway to the West. The Blackhawks are a natural fit as the visitors.

27.Nashville Predators (17-18-3, Previous: 24) – The Predators could give it the old college try on the campus of Vanderbilt University or go pro by taking it just down the street in the other direction from Sommet Center to LP Field, home of the NFL's Tennessee Titans. And if you think the location is a tough choice, try to come up with a natural rival.

28.Ottawa Senators (13-18-6, Previous: 28) – OK, we're going to test the imagination a bit here and pull off a game right smack dab on the Rideau Canal, the channel of water that allows for skaters to use when it freezes over. Invite the Maple Leafs and do the best to accommodate fans. Hey, it's all for television anyhow.

29.Atlanta Thrashers (13-22-5, Previous: 29) – Somehow you don't get the feeling the South is high on the priority list, but if we must how's about Turner Field, home of the Braves, and bring on the Flames, Atlanta's first team in the NHL.

30.New York Islanders (12-25-4, Previous: 30) – We can kill two birds with one stone here. Just blow the roof off of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., invite the Rangers for a New Year's classic, and then the Islanders will be forced to find a new home to return indoors.