Florida Panthers celebrate winning NHL Eastern Conference
Photo Credit: @FlaPanthers/ Twitter)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • For the first time ever, the Winter Classic is heading to Florida
  • The Panthers are set to host the game in 2026 against the New York Rangers
  • Keep reading for the full scoop

The 2026 Winter Classic is heading to the Sunshine State.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers have been awarded the iconic game next season. They will face the New York Rangers on Friday, January 2, at loanDepot park, the home of the Miami Marlins.

The team dropped an awesome video on X to announce the news:

This is very well-deserved for the Panthers. After all, a Florida-based team has been in the Stanley Cup Finals in each of the last five seasons. The Tampa Bay Lightning were in it three times, while the Cats have made it the last two. They of course beat the Edmonton Oilers in seven games last June.

While hockey is growing in Florida, there are just still eight players in the NHL who are born in the state. But, the emergence of the Panthers as a Cup contender over the last couple of seasons, along with Tampa’s success, has definitely helped the sport become more popular in a place dominated by football and baseball.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman believes that taking the Winter Classic to Florida is the perfect move.

Via CBS Sports:

“Stanley Cups, strings of sellouts and the exponential growth of youth and high school hockey throughout the state have demonstrated that Florida is a hockey hotbed,” Bettman said in a statement. “Outdoor NHL games in the Sunshine State? Never let it be said that our League isn’t willing to accept a challenge.”

In addition to the game, the Lightning will host the Stadium Series next February at Raymond James Stadium against the Boston Bruins, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play.

The Panthers are once again showing well in 2024-25, sitting in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 24-15-2 record. They’re six points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are in first place.

Florida has never competed in the Winter Classic.