Paul McCann: Admit it... That was fun!

A friend of mine said the the Preds are in heavy on Kessel. He told me he thought that it would probably take Seth Jones, a 1st & Prospect (Fiala) - or possibly two roster players (Eckholm plus Wilson or Smith) and a 1st.

This same guy told me that the Preds were working a trade with Pittsburg before the draft. And, he correctly said ahead of time that Hornqvist was the Preds trading chip. Not sure if he was just lucky, or exactly what his connection is. But he's been right on a few of these things over the years. He told me about Mike Fisher 2 days before it happened. (He called both the Ribiero & Roy signings this summer too at least a couple of days before they happened).

The price for Kessel, if even in the ballpark, doesn't really seem all that high to me. I know as fans we tend to get fixated on guys that come up in the Preds system - like Wilson or Smith - and think they are more valuable on the open market than they are. Either way, if the Preds are going to get any kind of real top-end talent before the trade deadline, they are going to have to give up a defenseman. That's the one thing the Preds have that other teams want.

I would have to say, adding Phil Kessel to your top line...well...those opportunities don't come along very often. Not sure if it's the right move for the Preds, but it wouldn't break my heart to see it happen!

Paul McCann: Admit it... That was fun!
- pmccann

skills competition was ok, but the draft was painful to watch, and the game was just as bad...Men's league hockey is more intense...you can have quality hockey with thundering body checks..the effort put in by allot of the players was weak at best...ya its a showcase for fans, but fans wanna see a game..not sure how you change that? home ice in playoffs? in final? dunno, but the all star weekend to me was a bore..

That was the worst piece of crap I have ever seen in my life. And I've seen a lot of crap in my 55 years.

If it was all just canned shinanigans then I qould probably watch, but I'm sorry the game is really, really boring to me.the skills competition isn't really much of a draw for me either

A friend of mine said the the Preds are in heavy on Kessel. He told me he thought that it would probably take Seth Jones, a 1st & Prospect (Fiala) - or possibly two roster players (Eckholm plus Wilson or Smith) and a 1st.

This same guy told me that the Preds were working a trade with Pittsburg before the draft. And, he correctly said ahead of time that Hornqvist was the Preds trading chip. Not sure if he was just lucky, or exactly what his connection is. But he's been right on a few of these things over the years. He told me about Mike Fisher 2 days before it happened. (He called both the Ribiero & Roy signings this summer too at least a couple of days before they happened).

The price for Kessel, if even in the ballpark, doesn't really seem all that high to me. I know as fans we tend to get fixated on guys that come up in the Preds system - like Wilson or Smith - and think they are more valuable on the open market than they are. Either way, if the Preds are going to get any kind of real top-end talent before the trade deadline, they are going to have to give up a defenseman. That's the one thing the Preds have that other teams want.

I would have to say, adding Phil Kessel to your top line...well...those opportunities don't come along very often. Not sure if it's the right move for the Preds, but it wouldn't break my heart to see it happen!
- holycow_75

It is kind of crazy to think, but the Preds would be the best fit for a trade partner with Toronto for Phil. The GM there has spoken very highly of Kessel multiple times, and lets be honest, Phil hates the media in Toronto (who wouldn't?!?)... I think a blue chip combination of Jones, this years 1st and Sissions (or maybe Fiala - but I'm sure Toronto would push hard for Sissions as he could be their second line center as early as next year) would likely get it done. I doubt that any other top team could offer something that matches that - Or be able to fit Kessel into their salary structure without giving back salary...

Adding more scoring punch to Nashville would make them very scary to play against. And I really think the trade I just mentioned would kickstart a true rebuild.

Super boring hockey!!!! They should just let the players rest up before the playoff drive and get rid of the All-Star game and the skills. My god that was terrible!!!!

That was the worst piece of crap I have ever seen in my life. And I've seen a lot of crap in my 55 years.
- isitin

The only way to make the All-Star game more enjoyable is to offer a huge incentive to the winning team. Make all PP's 5 minutes so guys are careful with their sticks & heavy body checks. But if these guys don't have something to play for, then why give any extra effort?

I attempted to watch the ASG but I was dealing with a ferocious hangover and I slept through most of it!

The only way to make the All-Star game more enjoyable is to offer a huge incentive to the winning team. Make all PP's 5 minutes so guys are careful with their sticks & heavy body checks. But if these guys don't have something to play for, then why give any extra effort?
- holycow_75

Make pp 5 mins? I cannot remember the last PP ever in an ASG

It is kind of crazy to think, but the Preds would be the best fit for a trade partner with Toronto for Phil. The GM there has spoken very highly of Kessel multiple times, and lets be honest, Phil hates the media in Toronto (who wouldn't?!?)... I think a blue chip combination of Jones, this years 1st and Sissions (or maybe Fiala - but I'm sure Toronto would push hard for Sissions as he could be their second line center as early as next year) would likely get it done. I doubt that any other top team could offer something that matches that - Or be able to fit Kessel into their salary structure without giving back salary...

Adding more scoring punch to Nashville would make them very scary to play against. And I really think the trade I just mentioned would kickstart a true rebuild.
- tonye25

And imagine a powerplay with kessel, fisher, and neal/ Forsberg with josi and weber on the back. second pp unit with neal/ Forsberg (whoever not on 1st), ribeiro, then smith or Wilson. Ellis and ekholm on the blue line. A second unit with an overage of perfect forward candidates. scary good team with or w/out kessel though.

I agree it is all not that exciting. You can also add the NFL and NBA into the mix as well. Only MLB comes the closest to a true game but that is a snoozer all season long.
I believe all-star games are only fun when attended in person. What other league than the NHL in all star competitions do you hear of players giving cars , jersey's off their back, sticks..etc.. To kids and charities.
Way to go NHL ! !

A friend of mine said the the Preds are in heavy on Kessel. He told me he thought that it would probably take Seth Jones, a 1st & Prospect (Fiala) - or possibly two roster players (Eckholm plus Wilson or Smith) and a 1st.


- holycow_75

Hands off Eck. We desperately need left handed shots and Eilis with Eck is a perfect 2nd pairing. Eck and Jones would also bring big dividends if Ellis is traded instead of Jones.

Losing Jones would be a bummer from a growing hockey diversity in the city. He's had a big impact on development hockey here.

"...that was fun..."

WHAT??? Fun for the players maybe. Fun to watch, NOT.

The players should be embarrassed to have even taken part in what was easily the absolute worst all-star game ever...in any sport. I feel sorry for the goalies who were shamed the worst. It's hard to even refer to that tire-fire as a "game". Crosby had it right, refused to play in a ridiculous, waste-of-time game.

If the idea of this "game" is to expose the NHL game to to sports fans...EPIC FAIL. That was not NHL hockey. Watching a bunch of entitled millionaires pretend to play the game I love, playing at half speed & without a speck of passion or effort, no thank you.

Bettman continues to ruin this league.

I attempted to watch the ASG but I was dealing with a ferocious hangover and I slept through most of it!
- NewfieStud

You and most of the players actually playing the game. Whole weekend was painful to watch and clearly just dragged out to make it as long as possible.

I'm amazed that people still wonder why players bail on it and want to go sit on the beach for a week.

Okay - maybe instead of the game, they could do an even more trumped up skills competition. They could do the fastest skater & other types of relays that are at high speed & require the guys to make good passes & finish tough shots. Then, for the hardest shot, they could have a wooden cutout of a goalie & watch Shea Weber take it's head off. Or a game of HORSE - where guys try to outdo each other on ridiculous trick shots.

It also would've been more fun to watch a full shoot-out than an actual game. They did the shootout, in a way, but it was timed & hard to watch.

A friend of mine said the the Preds are in heavy on Kessel. He told me he thought that it would probably take Seth Jones, a 1st & Prospect (Fiala) - or possibly two roster players (Eckholm plus Wilson or Smith) and a 1st.

This same guy told me that the Preds were working a trade with Pittsburg before the draft. And, he correctly said ahead of time that Hornqvist was the Preds trading chip. Not sure if he was just lucky, or exactly what his connection is. But he's been right on a few of these things over the years. He told me about Mike Fisher 2 days before it happened. (He called both the Ribiero & Roy signings this summer too at least a couple of days before they happened).

The price for Kessel, if even in the ballpark, doesn't really seem all that high to me. I know as fans we tend to get fixated on guys that come up in the Preds system - like Wilson or Smith - and think they are more valuable on the open market than they are. Either way, if the Preds are going to get any kind of real top-end talent before the trade deadline, they are going to have to give up a defenseman. That's the one thing the Preds have that other teams want.

I would have to say, adding Phil Kessel to your top line...well...those opportunities don't come along very often. Not sure if it's the right move for the Preds, but it wouldn't break my heart to see it happen!
- holycow_75

I would prefer to keep Ekholm and Fiala. Make it Jones, Smith and a first (they take stalberg too as cap space for us)

Bettman continues to ruin this league.
- calgaryoilerfan

Everything you listed was Bettman's fault? Wow... he's got more power that I thought.

Everything you listed was Bettman's fault? Wow... he's got more power that I thought.
- pmccann

Yeah. I am not sure where this falls on Bettman.

And seriously, why all the hate for this game. If you are expecting high speed, intense hockey then it's your fault for setting expectations on a game that are unrealistic. It is meant to be fun and if you couldn't tell that these players were having fun this weekend you are blind. I enjoyed the entire weekend and can't wait for next year when it's in Nashville.

It's a pointless and pathetic game that holds absolutely no meaning to anyone except to a minority number of misguided fans. If it were a real game that had meaning I'd be willing to compromise my feelings on it but as it is now, its a game that should be nixed from the schedule.

Pretty silly to put players at risk for injury in a half speed exhibition game that's outcome means absolutely nothing.

It's a pointless and pathetic game that holds absolutely no meaning to anyone except to a minority number of misguided fans. If it were a real game that had meaning I'd be willing to compromise my feelings on it but as it is now, its a game that should be nixed from the schedule.

Pretty silly to put players at risk for injury in a half speed exhibition game that's outcome means absolutely nothing.
- MnGump

Agreed. There is just no room in sports for fun...

Agreed. There is just no room in sports for fun...
- jl639s

He must have left out the "r" in his name...MnGrump

He must have left out the "r" in his name...MnGrump
- blueline

He is the guy I play against in Men's Beer D League that plays as if it is game 7 every single game. Hate that guy...

Agreed. There is just no room in sports for fun...
- jl639s

Whoo hoo! Rah rah! What's fun about it? Watching a bunch of world class players go through the motions in a non-competitive game? It's a dumbed and watered down exhibition that amounts to nothing.

So to my main point, even at half speed and minimal effort these players are still being put at risk for injury that could affect any given teams 2nd half. And for what? A meaningless game with a meaningless outcome.

If its so much fun then play it at the end of the season like the NFL does.

Or, make it a real game with an outcome that means something to someone other than bragging rights.

Or at the very least make it an outdoor game. Play it on a pond, do something to make it even remotely interesting for the casual and non-homer rube fans.

Whoo hoo! Rah rah! What's fun about it? Watching a bunch of world class players go through the motions in a non-competitive game? It's a dumbed and watered down exhibition that amounts to nothing.

So to my main point, even at half speed and minimal effort these players are still being put at risk for injury that could affect any given teams 2nd half. And for what? A meaningless game with a meaningless outcome.

If its so much fun then play it at the end of the season like the NFL does.

Or, make it a real game with an outcome that means something to someone other than bragging rights.

Or at the very least make it an outdoor game. Play it on a pond, do something to make it even remotely interesting for the casual and non-homer rube fans.
- MnGump

I can see you are very passionate about this. It obviously is worth nothing more than, the $12 million dollars in out of town spending in the city of Columbus, the attention given to a hockey market that doesn't get much attention otherwise, the show for the loyal fans in a market that again doesn't get much acknowledgement or respect and lastly... the FUN that is designed to be.

Plus you are right, all those injuries that have happened over the 60 all star games that have been played... ya know like.... and....

What a waste of time