Bodog Beat

Jonathan Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks are rumored to be hosts for the NHL's 2009 Winter Classic. (AP Images)

The NHL had a great amount of success last season hosting an outdoor game. So, why not try it again?

That appears to be what's going down as news leaked today that the 2009 Winter Classic will pit the Chicago Blackhawks against the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field.

Last year, The Penguins-Sabres game in snowy Buffalo — the first regular-season outdoor NHL game in the United States — drew a 2.6 overnight rating and a 5 share on NBC. The numbers were a big success for the NHL, a league that has struggled to find new fans in the United States.

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