Denver, Minnesota front-runners for Stadium Series game next season

It's no secret that the Minnesota Wild want to host an outdoor game. You might say they feel entitled to one because of how "wild" the citizens of Minnesota are for hockey. Now, the team is close enough to landing an NHL outdoor game that it can practically taste the snow on the tip of its tongue.

The Wild and the Colorado Avalanche are the leaders to host a Stadium Series game next season, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Minny and Denver frontrunners for Stadium Series outdoor games next yr. Wpg likely to host Heritage. Winter Classic still up in the air.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 11, 2014

The update from Dreger helps add fuel to the fire of speculation that's picked up this year. We've seen reports out of both Denver and Minnesota that they want to host a game.

Coors Field in Denver and either Target Field or TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis would make for likely locations for a game and both cities would likely turn a Stadium Series game into a circus of events. The one lingering curiosity here is about the lack of host for the 2016 Winter Classic.

Perhaps Denver and Minneapolis are in the running there as well. Most other cities usually seen on NBC or NBCSN have played host to either the Winter Classic or Stadium Series before.

The long-time rumor about the Winnipeg Jets playing host to a Heritage Classic also appears to be coming to fruition. With Investors Group Field up and running, and with cities such as Calgary and Vancouver already having played host to the Heritage Classic, Winnipeg makes plenty of sense for the All-Canadian outdoor game.