The southernmost matchup in NHL history and the first of two outdoor games that will be played in the Sunshine State next season, the Panthers will host the New York Rangers in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami on Jan. 2. It will be the 17th NHL Winter Classic and the 44th NHL regular-season outdoor game.

A Stanley Cup title. A superstar-laden roster. A packed, boisterous arena. And now, the 2026 Winter Classic. Here's how a hotbed was created.

The New York Rangers are the team rumored to play in the 2026 NHL Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers inside loanDepot Park in Miami.

The NHL announced Wednesday that the Florida Panthers will host the 2026 Winter Classic, facing the New York Rangers on Jan. 2 at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins. “Our time has come that we deserve an outdoor game,” Panthers president and CEO Matt Caldwell said. “We’re fired up to have it right here locally.”

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It’s been officially announced by the NHL that the 2026 Winter Classic will see the Florida Panthers host the New York Rangers at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida on January 2nd, 2026. The NHL’s scheduling in recent years suggested that the Panthers would likely play the Rangers,