Golden Knights to be next All-Star hosts, Predators get outdoor game

The Vegas Golden Knights will host the 2021-22 NHL All-Star Weekend, commissioner Gary Bettman announced at his annual Stanley Cup Final press conference Monday.

Bettman also revealed plans for two outdoor games. The Winter Classic previously scheduled for Jan. 1, 2021 between the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild at Target Field in Minneapolis will now take place a year later at that location, and the Nashville Predators will host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nissan Stadium in Tennessee's capital on Feb. 26.

The 2021-22 NHL schedule hasn't been finalized, so neither has the date for the All-Star festivities. However, the league said Monday that the event will occur at the traditional midway point of the regular season. This will be Las Vegas' first time hosting All-Star Weekend.

Bettman added Monday that the league still plans to give the Carolina Hurricanes a future outdoor game. The NHL had previously planned one at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh for February 2021 before postponing it in December.

The league and Hurricanes agreed earlier this year to postpone it for one season, team president and general manager Don Waddell said in a statement Monday night.

Target Field is home to MLB's Minnesota Twins. Nissan Stadium plays host to the NFL's Tennessee Titans.

The Lightning will be participating in their first-ever regular-season outdoor game. The Predators, Blues, and Wild will each be taking part in their second.