from Scott Burnside of ESPN,

Fair or not, the perception around the hockey world is that there is a distinct lack of buzz surrounding the NHL's marquee regular-season game.

On social media, much of the early discussion surrounding the tilt between the host Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks has been around the seemingly slow build of enthusiasm for an event that has been a major draw for NHL sponsors, hundreds of thousands of fans at the event and a huge television audience.

Anecdotal? For sure.

Meaningful? Hard to tell, although, to be fair, the NHL is just now swinging into major event mode.

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What are your thoughts on the Winter Classic? Is it still considered must watch for the NHL fan?