It's the annual Winter Classic with the Vegas Golden Knights visiting the Seattle Kraken at T-Mobile Park.
Happy Winter Classic Day!
This is the 15th iteration of the NHL's annual signature event and the 40th outdoor game overall. Featuring the league's two newest expansion teams, this is also the first Winter Classic to be held in the Pacific Time Zone and the game begins at 12 p.m. local time.
As usual, no other games are schedule on the slate due to the all-day celebrations. This means only the Golden Knights and Kraken will be providing the only players available for fantasy hockey.
Here's what you need to know per NHL Public Relations, plus a few players to stream if you need an extra head start:
- Vegas has the edge in experience, having played outdoors in 2021 against the Avalanche at Lake Tahoe in a 3-2 loss.
- However, reigning Stanley Cup champions are 5-1 in outdoor games.
- This will be Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy's third outdoor game following the 2019 Winter Classic and 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe with the Bruins. Kraken head coach Dake Hakstol will make his second appearance following the 2017 Stadium Series with the Flyers.
- Knights assistant coach Joel Ward will provide the playing experience; he played in the 2015 Winter Classic with the Capitals. John Stevens, also an assistant with the Knights, will be appearing in his fourth outdoor game after the 2014 and 2015 Stadium Series and the 2020 Winter Classic.
- Kraken assistant coach Dave Lowry was an assistant for the Flames when they participated in the 2011 Heritage Classic in Calgary.
- Knights assistant GM Jason Botterill has them all beat. This will be the sixth regular-season outdoor game of his career following the 2008, 2011 and 2018 Winter Classics, and the 2014 and 2017 Stadium Series.
- The Kraken are on a eight-game points streak (6-0-2); another point against the Knights and they'll establish a new franchise record. The only other team to enter the Winter Classic on an eight-game points streak were the Bruins in 2023. They defeated the Penguins, 2-1.
- Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb will be playing his second outdoor game in Washington. He played his first game on Jan. 15, 2011 when the Spokane Chiefs hosted the Kootenay Ice, with McNabb serving as captain, in Spokane's Avista Stadium, home of the Spokane Indians, a minor-league baseball team. It was the first outdoor game in CHL history.
- Spokane native and the first Washington-born player to play for the Kraken, Kailer Yamamoto, is expected to dress. He is the fourth Spokane-born player to play in the NHL, following Duane Wylie, Derek Ryan and Tyler Johnson.
- Pierre-Édouard Bellemare and Tomas Tatar are the only two players to have both played for the Knights and Kraken.
- The economic impact of the Winter Classic, as calculated by Seattle, is expected to be $30 million.
- Since the Kraken's inaugural season, the number of registered hockey players has nearly doubled in Washington state from 6,793 to 11,876.
Streaming Options:
Ivan Barbashev, C/LW, Vegas (45% rostered)
Barbashev was red-hot in December, scoring 11 points in 13 games. He's playing PP2 and L1 with Jack Eichel, who's playing his second outdoor game. Barbashev is one of the best streamers for the Winter Classic.
Alec Martinez, D, Vegas (5% rostered)
If you need blocks, no one in the league is better than Martinez. Outdoor games tend to be a slog, which is a good thing for Martinez. He had six blocks against the Kings in his most recent game.
Tomas Tatar, LW/RW, Kraken (5% rostered)
The Kraken's offensive profile isn't great, but Tatar could be a nice streamer playing L1 with Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle. Since moving to Seattle, Tatar has four points in six games.
Alexander Wennberg, C, Kraken (1% rostered)
If you need multi-category coverage, Wennberg's your best bet on the Kraken. He trailed only Eberle in shots on goal over the past week and also gets plenty of faceoff wins.
Joey Daccord, G, Kraken (44% rostered)
Daccord will be rostered in over 50 percent of Yahoo leagues soon. He's been excellent in December, including his previous start against the Flyers when he allowed just one goal. This is a tough matchup against the Knights, but Daccord has season-long value. Philipp Grubauer and Chris Driedger should not be a threat to take the starting job.
