Rumors are popping up all over the place that Washington wants a piece of the NHL Winter Classic. Whether it be in Nationals Park or RFK Stadium, who cares? Just get Alex Ovechkin out their in the snow and the wind and let him do what he does best, all settled under the stars and stripes of the nation’s capital. Some think that New Yankee Stadium might be the next location, but due to other scheduled events, New York doesn’t seem like a realistic option.

To date, Chicago is the westernmost and southernmost city to host a Winter Classic, and it seems unfair to send the game back east again just to appease fans who want to see Ovechkin outdoors. While it’s a great idea to get the NHL’s MVP involved in the outdoor affair, there’s still enough momentum in the event itself that the NHL doesn’t yet need to inject somebody like Alex O. into the mix. Wait until people want something new; then put one of the world’s best players in the game to build hype.

While some cities in the Sunbelt who are struggling to turn a profit aren’t much in consideration for a Winter Classic game, why not a city like Los Angeles or San Jose? Who says that the game has to be held in the snow? Granted, hockey is the coldest of the major North American sports, and keeping the ice from melting too fast may be a challenge, not to mention other weather effects like rain, but measures can certainly be taken with enough vision and planning.

The NHL is trying to build their game worldwide, when there’s still issues in the United States with fan interest. The majority of NHL teams play on the eastern side of the country, so does it seem very smart to keep one of the year’s most anticipated games in the east? Putting the game out west would get some fans to buy into the NHL brand of hockey. Washington hosting the Winter Classic is not a bad idea, it’s just not a good idea right now.