Maple Leafs and Sabres reportedly to headline 2022 NHL Heritage Classic

It looks like the Leafs and Sabres could be taking things outside in March.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Maple Leafs and Sabres reportedly to headline 2022 NHL Heritage Classic
NHL.com

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plans for last season's outdoor games were put on hold. It wasn't long ago that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the Winter Classic between the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues that had been postponed is now on for for January 1 in Minneapolis' Target Field. 

Additionally, the NHL will feature a Stadium Series matchup between the Nashville Predators and defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning on February 26 at Nashville's Nissan Stadium, home of Tennessee Titans. What's more, the Carolina Hurricanes are scheduled to host a Stadium Series game during the 2022-23 season in Raleigh. 

But for this season, we have a better idea of who we could also be seeing taking it outdoors. According to multiple reports, the NHL is said to be eying the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres battling in the NHL Heritage Classic game at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., with a tentative scheduled date of March 13, 2022. 

The game, which was originally scheduled to be played at KeyBank Center, was not listed on Buffalo's two half-season ticket options. 

The Sabres would be the "home" team at the venue, which features a capacity of about 23,000 but can be expanded to 40,000 for special events. 

For the Sabres, this would be their 3rd outdoor contest after the 2008 Winter Classic against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills. They also participated in the 2018 Winter Classic against the New York Rangers at Citi Field, home of Major League Baseball's New York Mets. 

Meanwhile, the Leafs took part in the 2014 Winter Classic against the Detroit Red Wings in front of over 100,000 spectators at Michigan Stadium, home of the University of Michigan Wolverines football team. The two teams also battled in the NHL Centennial Classic in January of 2017 at BMO Field in Toronto. Should this matchup with the Sabres indeed take place, it would be the first time that the Leafs played in a Heritage Classic game, as they remain the only Canadian NHL team not to have done so yet. 


Source: The Score