I will write up a way to improve the All-Star Game. That is a great idea. Thank you.
Ok, I am not that smart so fans, help me to craft a good response. What would you do to improve the NHL All-Star Game? You are all smarter than me. Help. :-)
Tags: All-Star Game, Hockey, NHL, Ted Leonsis, Ted's Take
Ted,
Have the league do this.
Stanley Cup Winner from previous year plays a group of All-Stars..
or
Make the game mean something, Take the Baseball approach and whoever wins the game that Conference gets home ice in the finals.
For the All-Star game only, put back some of the old rules so that we dont have 10-11 games.. Too much scoring has ruined All-Star games in the past. If hitting is not allowed then put back the 2-line pass!
Here’s a column I wrote about revamping the All-Star Game that I posted at The Sporting News earlier this year;
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=335230
I think the answer to the future of the NHL AGS lies in its past. Take a look!
It’s impossible to find out how to go about buying tickets for the all star games let alone have there be any available to buy with all the players, sponsors, season ticket holders, etc
FOr all star weekend, add another skills competition- Fighting. I know everyone is trying to get away from that aspect of hockey, but I think this will bring people to the event.
2. Give players each a charity to play for. If they score a goal, such and such dollars will go to that charity. Note each player would have thier own charity so it could get them more excited to put the extra effort in. And just so they dont just do one on ones, we would also give money for an assist.
3. And finally, recreate the miracle on ice and have all US Players play against players from the old USSR. Dress them up in the old uniforms and have Boudreaux coaching the USA in a plaid Jacket just like Herb. This is OUR TIME!
Ok last one was a stretch
3.
I’ve never been much of a fan of the actual game, but rather the festivities. Fastest skater, hardest shot, accuracy drill, those things. Seeing who really is the fastest, who’s the most accurate, who’s got the biggest cannon of a shot. Bondra vs Bure in fastest skater. MacInnis vs Iafrate in hardest shot. That’s the bread and butter of the weekend in my book.
Having the best play the best is a fun concept, but unfortunately it’s played more like a scrimmage, so the idea of seeing the fastest skaters vs the hardest hitters goes awry right from the start line. MLS has a good idea of having the best in the league vs an elite international team, but the NHL is so much better than all other leagues it’d be a whitewash. NHL All-Stars: 13, Avangard Omsk: 1
Having the game determine who gets home ice could motivate players more, but it would take away the “fun recreational” feeling the All-Star game banks on having. Plus there’d be the issue of injuries, so all the bottom dwellers who have no hope of reaching the Cup and taking advantage of the home ice would keep their players at home, shooting the whole “best vs best” thing in the foot. Besides, the better team should have home ice in the final, that’s the motivation of playing hard 82 games in the regular season. Just go on all the big baseball message boards and you’ll find out how popular that setup is over in the Majors…
The All-Star game in every league has kind of lost its luster ever since broadcasts of games exploded. In the old days the All-Star game was the only time you could see that many star athletes at once. Now, with NHL Center Ice I can keep tabs on every big name in the league. It’s still kinda fun to have, but the Winter Classic is now the best winter season festivity in the NHL.
And no, the All Star game and Winter Classic should not merge…
Simple Solution to the All Star Game:
With all the hype and jibe between the NHL and KHL, why not host a game where the NHL all stars take on the KHL all –stars? I think this would work great. In the 70’s the Soviets would send their best to take on individual teams and the games would be exteremely intense. Who could forget the game when the Soviets walked out because of the way the Flyers were conducting themselves? Or what about “the greatest game ever played on Montreal Forum Ice” between Dryden and Tretiak?
If the 2 leagues can somehow overcome the logistics and the paperwork I think a game between these two rival leagues would generate a tremendous amount of interest world wide. You can even take it a step further and play the game outdoors!
Think about it, the cocky NHL player playing to defend their price and reputation, and the up and coming KHL league trying to make a name for themselves.
http://www.thehockeyfamily.com - for love of the game
Since the league’s all-star game is about offense, why not reward those who are lighting the lamp? Take the league leaders by a cutoff date from each conference and give them the chance to show off. Using that criteria through last night’s games, your skaters would be:
West: Getzlaf, Kane, Iginla, Perry, Setoguchi, Marleau, Hemsky, Dumont, Thornton, Doan, Selanne, Hossa, Weber, Boyle, Ehrloff, Souray, Rafalski, Campbell.
East: Malkin, Semin, Savard, Crosby, Parise, Gagne, OV, Vanek, Heatley, Richards, Alfredsson, Backstrom, Green, Markov, Kuba, Kaberle, Girardi, Streit.
Throw in a fan choice or “Commissioner’s Selection” here and there, and you’re all set.
The online voting experiment has obviously failed. Maybe we should go back to the system of allowing one vote per ticket used for entry at an NHL arena. Might be time to let the sportswriters into the mix, too.
I don’t for a moment believe the writer in Canada would have NO problems if the game was in Nashville and six Preds were voted starters by the Nashville fans. So, in my mind, he still needs to come clean on that one - your primary point was a good one, Ted.
As for “fixing” the All-Star game, who cares? It isn’t perfect. It’s an exhibition. The games are usually high scoring, low hitting (ok, no hitting) affairs. So what?
I recall the 1982 game in Washington like it was yesterday. The buzz in the air that day. The excitement. Here it is 26 years later, and I can see in my head the amazing goal Gretzky scored. Funny how I can’t recall the goal Gretzky scored in either his game before or after the All Star game that year. But I do remember his All-Star game vividly.
So..tinker with the All-Star game or leave it alone. I could care less. But SIX Habs? Come on. If it was six Preds, the press in canada would be beside itself. And this writer would be leading the band.
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