Paul Berthelot: The Blue Jackets other All-Star snub Why Brandon Saad should have been named at All-Star

All 100% fair points, but the All-Star game is nothing more than a popularity contest. Unfortunately for Atkinson and Saad, neither are regarded as stars in the league and leaving out someone who is (despite maybe having a less-productive season than those two), is unfortunately bad for business. It's lame and it sucks, but it is what it is.

Paul.

Just let in go. This isn't an All-Star game it's a joke. No 1 cares nor should you. The whole system is flawed. I don't know a single person who cares or watches any of it, including the skills competition. It's not All-Stars it's 1 player from each team & many are popularity contest picks regardless & not even the best players for their respective teams but rosters need to be filled positional under that stupid dynamic & the NHL's marketing VIP's want to rub shoulders with. It's pure marketing to people outside normal peoples incomes.

I run 8 fantasy leagues; participate in 2, 7 have 20 teams, 1 16. I'm in 3 draft pools 17, 18 & 20 deep & numerous box pools. In the 1st 2; fantasy & draft leagues, not a single GM or team owner cares, in fact just the opposite, they hate the fact the NHL shuts down for 4 more days to stage this dogs breakfast, screwing up 2 weeks of our schedule. The Christmas break is bad enough. The draft pools don't really care as they get there man games regardless but in our fantasy leagues it screws up 2 weeks but at least it's potential the same for all but not really.

Man you have two representatives going to the game, 3 counting the coach. There is only room for 11 players out of a 7 team division. A division that includes the likes of CRosby Malkin Kessel Ovechkin backstrom Letang carlson Tavares giroux voracek hall etc... It's a superstar loaded division. What do you think the NHL wants 4 or 5 blue jackets there and leave all the stars home?

Don't get too upset, it's a fan thing. Every team must have at least one representative. It's not always about the best players in the first 3 months of the season. No offense to saad because he's a great player... But who the hell wants to see Brendan Saad showing off his skills over malkin or Tavares?

All 100% fair points, but the All-Star game is nothing more than a popularity contest. Unfortunately for Atkinson and Saad, neither are regarded as stars in the league and leaving out someone who is (despite maybe having a less-productive season than those two), is unfortunately bad for business. It's lame and it sucks, but it is what it is.
- eichiefs9

this , I don't mind rather have them rested for the stretch run then participate in a circus act.

Paul.

Just let in go. This isn't an All-Star game it's a joke. No 1 cares nor should you. The whole system is flawed. I don't know a single person who cares or watches any of it, including the skills competition. It's not All-Stars it's 1 player from each team & many are popularity contest picks regardless & not even the best players for their respective teams but rosters need to be filled positional under that stupid dynamic & the NHL's marketing VIP's want to rub shoulders with. It's pure marketing to people outside normal peoples incomes.

I run 8 fantasy leagues; participate in 2, 7 have 20 teams, 1 16. I'm in 3 draft pools 17, 18 & 20 deep & numerous box pools. In the 1st 2; fantasy & draft leagues, not a single GM or team owner cares, in fact just the opposite, they hate the fact the NHL shuts down for 4 more days to stage this dogs breakfast, screwing up 2 weeks of our schedule. The Christmas break is bad enough. The draft pools don't really care as they get there man games regardless but in our fantasy leagues it screws up 2 weeks but at least it's potential the same for all but not really.
- striker777

How would you feel if you were Colorado, Arizona, New Jersey for example this season if you didn't have a representative in the All Star Game. The issue isn't the one player per team it's the fact that there's only 9 skaters and 2 goalies on each team in a league with 7 team divisions. The three on three tournament idea is horrible in the 4 division league if there were more divisions it would be better but then it would be a long ass night.

Paul.

Just let in go. This isn't an All-Star game it's a joke. No 1 cares nor should you. The whole system is flawed. I don't know a single person who cares or watches any of it, including the skills competition. It's not All-Stars it's 1 player from each team & many are popularity contest picks regardless & not even the best players for their respective teams but rosters need to be filled positional under that stupid dynamic & the NHL's marketing VIP's want to rub shoulders with. It's pure marketing to people outside normal peoples incomes.

I run 8 fantasy leagues; participate in 2, 7 have 20 teams, 1 16. I'm in 3 draft pools 17, 18 & 20 deep & numerous box pools. In the 1st 2; fantasy & draft leagues, not a single GM or team owner cares, in fact just the opposite, they hate the fact the NHL shuts down for 4 more days to stage this dogs breakfast, screwing up 2 weeks of our schedule. The Christmas break is bad enough. The draft pools don't really care as they get there man games regardless but in our fantasy leagues it screws up 2 weeks but at least it's potential the same for all but not really.
- striker777

There's a lot of words here.

There's a lot of words here.
- jmatchett383

big words, small words, yuge words...words that make other words...

Honestly it doesn't matter.

The All Star game has always been a silly event. Going to 3 on 3 allowed them to breathe a bit of life into it, but it means less spots. Throw in the 1 player per team requirement and there isn't much flexibility. It mostly will just be one player per team with some exceptions.

Anyone not going gets some time off and that's fine.

I wish Bob wasn't going...I want him to rest