As a child I remember all-star weekend as being something exciting watching all the best players together. The fastest skater, the hardest shot, the breakaway contest, target shooting; any and all of the events were fun to watch. These days I still find all of these events exciting and some of them entertaining…mind you I don’t care for Ovechkin to put on sunglasses and come in on a breakaway. Personally I would like to see players do incredible moves and actually try to score, stuff they would never do in a game and only mess around with at practice. To me that’s a lot more amazing than say Patrick Kane coming down in a cape or whatever, but maybe the kids like that. In which case that’s ok, but I’d still prefer them to do some incredible dangle and roof the puck after, bar down for effect.
The all-star game on the other hand…I’ve come to realize this game isn’t really much of a game but more of a free skate with some attemps at incredible plays. Which do happen and they are great plays, but nobody is really giving it their all and blocking shots or laying big hits. It’s a friendly game after all, but that doesn’t mean I have to pretend that it’s exciting and worth watching. Again, I think it’s more so for the kids.
Players backing out of the all-star game just because they want more of a rest is lame. I’m not saying Malkin and Crosby are not playing because they don’t want to and they are milking their injuries. That’s especially not like Crosby who is one of the best players in the National Hockey League to make sure he signs things for the kids and does a lot of off-ice work in the hockey community. The kids who look forward to the all-star game want nothing more than to see their favorite player on the ice, whether it is for the skills competition where all the players have their helmets off and hair slicked back or in the game itself. It’s a shame neither of these guys will be at the all-star weekend, but the show goes on. Years back I actually recall the Detroit Red Wings having to suspend Lidstrom for a game because he didn’t go to the game; I wonder if anything will be looked at this year.
If I’m not mistaken three of the six goalies chosen to play in the all-star game got hurt and are unable to participate. Talk about a curse, that’s crazy!
It wouldn’t surprise me to see some trades go down after the all-star break so be sure to keep an eye on any activity as it could drastically increase a players value down the final stretch of the season.
The NHL all-star draft will take place tonight and teams will be set for competition in the events and of course the game. Looking over the events:
Event 1: Fastest Skater
Event 2: Breakaway Challenge
Event 3: Accuracy Shooting
Event 4: Skills Challenge Relay
Event 5: Hardest Shot
Event 6: Shootout
Jonathan Toews and Nick Foligno will be the captains in this year’s all-star game which is hosted by Columbus. Last all-star draft was actually somewhat entertaining in my opinion. The boys are all dressed up with their hockey hair flowing and they are enjoying chirping one another during the draft. Ovechkin ended up taking a picture of the Maple Leafs shy Phil Kessel as he was the last player picked in the draft. Wouldn’t it be something else to know that Toews and Foligno had a little chat to ensure that Ovi was picked last in this year’s draft and then have Kessel take a picture of him? It would be classic.
Enjoy your all-star weekend and get ready for some rejuvenated spirits on the ice after a break for most of the players. Prepare those rosters as best as possible for your fantasy playoff run(s), remember there will be a trade deadline roster freeze at some point. Be sure to check the settings of your pool so you know when that day is.
Thanks for reading.