i'll probably watch the skills comp, but skip the actual game. i might watch them pick teams too if i have nothing better going on. that was pretty amusing last time.

The week long break is to enticing. Players see it as an earned vacation,

cut the break down to 3 days and dont give them the 'play in the all star game or go to Cancun' choice

Will you be competing in the upcoming butthurt Olympics?
- Feds91Stammer

Crosby just had an MRI done. Is he faking an injury to the extent of having a MRI? Stop b itching about nothing
- gdsmack267

OMG he had an MRI!!??

No player wants to be in the All Star Game so they start sucking during the voting so they don't get picked. Just ask the Leafs players.

The one thing these players seem to forget when they start rolling in the millions is that ultimately those dollars come from the fans, if the league wants to put on a show for those fans you would like to think the players would be happy to give back to the people that allow them to make lot's of money doing something they love.

The week long break is to enticing. Players see it as an earned vacation,

cut the break down to 3 days and dont give them the 'play in the all star game or go to Cancun' choice
- the_cause2000

i think it's location too. if this game was in Anaheim, something tells me we'd see fewer bail outs. a weekend in Columbus in the dead of winter isn't exactly appealing.

OMG he had an MRI!!??
- DoubleDown

That settles it

The league, owners and players association brought this on themselves when they changed the All Star game from being a game that represents every teams best player to ... well, I am not sure what it is.

They made it known that checking was not allowed...so goalies....good luck out there.

Really, it should be that if a player is voted in by the fans or however they are selecting the "starters" and they don't go, the players team should forfeit any revenue from the All Star game.

If they aren't event going to have the real All Stars, then just do away with the entire farce, have the fans vote on a first team and second team, have a mid season break with a skills competition....you could even make it part of the Winter Classic weekend, and be done with it.

As it is now it is the worst of all worlds and getting worse by the minute.
- wbon22

Disagree completely, the NHL NEEDS to strike while the iron is hot. The more they get their product (in all of its forms) to consumers the better. 3 or 4 "special" weekends are money makers. And teams like the Blackhawks, Flyers, Rangers (to name a few) NEED revenues to rise not just this year but every year. So if you don't like the game, don't watch. But if it is in your town or one close and your kid says he wants to see his favorite, take him and garantee another generation of die hard hockey fans who in turn will help fuel the fire.

i think it's location too. if this game was in Anaheim, something tells me we'd see fewer bail outs. a weekend in Columbus in the dead of winter isn't exactly appealing.
- DoubleDown

A weekend in Columbus at any point in the year isn't exactly appealing.

Eklund: And we thought NHL Players were the Good Guys and "Got it." Buzzcast at 1pm
- Eklund

In the 70's and 80's, the players went to the all star game for the recognition, love of the game, and the fans. It was an honor for them to wear an all star jersey.

Today, it's a waste of their time (for some)

You pay them 60 grand a year and they are hungry for appreciation
You pay them millions and they don't want to be bothered.

The allstar game is just a mid season break for everyone. It targets a younger demographic. I for one am all about kids getting to see their favourite players all on the ice together. As for myself what a waste of time. Boring a hell. I can't say I will be tuning in.

i think it's location too. if this game was in Anaheim, something tells me we'd see fewer bail outs. a weekend in Columbus in the dead of winter isn't exactly appealing.
- DoubleDown

Why? What's so exciting about Anaheim?

This is very exciting.
- Streit2ThePoint

ek said that he's a flyers fan who is a crosby fan

how can this be

ek said that he's a flyers fan who is a crosby fan

how can this be
- Flyfreaky

He's not a true Flyer's fan. Only REAL Flyer's fans are fans of the Flyer's ONLY.

He would have been. He made it known he was going on vacation no matter what.
- Eklund

Shouldn't he be penalized and not allowed to play in the next reg season game?

He's not a true Flyer's fan. Only REAL Flyer's fans are fans of the Flyer's ONLY.
- Streit2ThePoint

amen!

They won't be able to play their teams next game. Malkin could but won't, he is injuried.

amen!
- Flyfreaky

I named my dog Carter after Jeff Carter. We got him around the time he signed that big 11 year contract. I miss that dog.

He's not a true Flyer's fan. Only REAL Flyer's fans are fans of the Flyer's ONLY.
- Streit2ThePoint

plus he wouldn't shake crim's hand

Personally I will watch the game and allof the other parts skills/draft because I love the game. Defense is not a priority and creativity is.
The analogy or the Olympics vs All Star game sis interesting. You play for your country FREE to honor your heritage. And the game itself?
I understand yes it during the season and injury COULD happen ....but the same can be said for the Olympics. So it's mixed messages.
It use to be an honor to go play. It's now a chore to go....

Change the game till after the season... Would that work?

I named my dog Carter after Jeff Carter. We got him around the time he signed that big 11 year contract. I miss that dog.
- Streit2ThePoint

You end up getting a black lab named Wayne?

They won't be able to play their teams next game. Malkin could but won't, he is injuried.
- deadpoulet

this cements his legacy as a ne'er do well

Crosby had been slumping significantly up until the last two weeks. You could visually see his skating was way off. While he seems to be coming around, who are you to question whether he'd benefit from rest and rehab rather than playing in a game that has literally become the worst exhibition in pro sports?

Who cares about some little kid in Columbus and his disappointment of missing out on Crosby. Tickets are easily had in Columbus for regular season games and they're now a divisional opponent....go see him then.

I named my dog Carter after Jeff Carter. We got him around the time he signed that big 11 year contract. I miss that dog.
- Streit2ThePoint

you would have been safe with snider, homer or clarke