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NHL unveils 2011 Winter Classic in Pittsburgh

The NHL held their press conference to introduce the 2011 Winter Classic in Pittsburgh today, and part of the fun, as always, is seeing just what the iconic logos each team will be using for the game. While the Penguins have done this all before back in 2008, this is new territory for the Capitals. Tarik El-Bashir of Capitals Insider was on the scene today and

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Pretty snazzy looking and the Penguins logo in particular is interesting because it was the teams mark for just one season in the NHL, their first one. Sadly, the skating penguin with a scarf wasn’t a huge hit right off the bat. That’s no fun at all. If you’re curious about what jerseys the teams might be wearing, Puck Daddy has already dipped into the possibilities and it’s worth a look. Expect that the Penguins will go with the same jerseys they wore in that inaugural season to match the logo. The Capitals don’t really have too many options to run with for a legendary throwback look.

Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke briefly and was obviously very excited at the prospect of having the league’s two biggest stars face each other on arguably the league’s biggest mid-season stage.

While the press conference itself is always a bit of a snoozer, with it taking place at Heinz Field it offered the players the chance to take shots at the uprights on the field. No, seriously. The Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, Max Talbot, and Pascal Dupuis as well as the Capitals’ Dave Steckel and Mike Knuble all had chances to fire pucks through the uprights at Heinz Field and appropriately enough, the further back they got the more impossible it became.

I didn’t think it would be possible for Sidney Crosby’s shot to look scary off the ice, but here we are and I think it might behoove the Steelers to at least ask Sid to try out for the kicking job. Or would it be hurling if he used a stick? Things to ponder for the time being at least. As you know, the Winter Classic will be on January 1, 2011 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and will be live on NBC.