It had it's moments, the main issue will always be the fact that the players have very little personality and since it revolves around them, it can only be taken so far.
- 13sundin13

This is kind of a fair Response. Problem is I’ve been taught to be good kids. Most of these guys are really just great polite kids and that’s what we love about hockey players. really funny and they also have great personalities but they don’t like to bring them out in person sometimes. I don’t think you’re boring as much as polite.

As an older fan, it's become more Hollywood than NHL. A little bit is ok, but the gimmick with the breakaways that Marner, Ovi & Crosby, and the others did was a little much. Who wasn't going to go with any child on skates? The judges made no sense. I am ok with the golf and surfboard ideas and the rest of this day. As for the games, I like the conference battles, but 3 on 3 limits other valid stars and more defensemen from being elected. That needs to change. The goalies really have little chances. Not fun for them.
- musicnutz

It’s a really great comment and I agree with almost everything you said. I’m not a fan of the goofiness of the All-Star break away thing. But I did like the beach stuff and I thought the golf thing was fun.

I think the main issue is the sport & players being so dull. People love it & them for their intensity.. take that away, and it’s not fun to watch.

Also - I understand Ron MacLean heading HNIC - he’s basically an institution at this point, but my god he’s boring.

Bring Biz & PK in & let them liven up the broadcasts

Any pretense that the All Star weekend is for the fans disappeared when they ended the career of John Scott. I haven't watched it since.

I think the main issue is the sport & players being so dull. People love it & them for their intensity.. take that away, and it’s not fun to watch.

Also - I understand Ron MacLean heading HNIC - he’s basically an institution at this point, but my god he’s boring.

Bring Biz & PK in & let them liven up the broadcasts
- Gsyms17

Dear god no.

YOU are in the Minority for sure It sucked

Hated the jerseys....hard to tell the teams apart......
- bennythehat

Yeah. The black jerseys having white on the back made it very hard to tell who was on what team

I used to enjoy the skills competition but this year was literally the worst I've ever seen. Breaking up all the events to try and make the viewers come back for the "finals" was stupid. Just do an event, finish the event with a winner, go to commercial, come back with the next event. It's not difficult. I don't mind pre-taped events like the dunk tank and the golf game. It's interesting to have a couple of events that are themed to the location. They tried it last year with the Bellagio fountain in Vegas (which kinda worked) and shooting the hanging cards (which was freaking cringe).

Overall, it's ESPN's coverage that is so awful. The whole thing played like hockey being presented to you by a corporate focus group. My kid lasted about 15 minutes before he left for his room and said it was boring and he didn't care to sit and watch an endless parade of advertisements.

I'd say maybe ESPN will do better next year but they clearly think NHL coverage requires them to use dad jokes and late-90's SportsCenter humor.

Naah. It's a waste of time. What a long week it's been. Can't wait until Tuesday!

This is kind of a fair Response. Problem is I’ve been taught to be good kids. Most of these guys are really just great polite kids and that’s what we love about hockey players. really funny and they also have great personalities but they don’t like to bring them out in person sometimes. I don’t think you’re boring as much as polite.
- Eklund

Agreed, but it doesn't make for interesting entertainment outside of the games unfortunately. Especially when there's already so much coverage and visibility for the players in today's game.

Nope it has been and is just hot trash.

Its not for fans. Its not for kids. Its a showy shillfest for corporate.

The harder they try the worse its gotten. Even players question it and they had to penalize players to stop them skipping it.

Cringy . Like the hardest shot, breaking the plates, fastest skater etc. Need to find some other competition to show off the skills of players. I have nothing.

It was a jumbled mess. Showing half of one competition, then going to the other just had me lose interest. I understand a lot of it had to be filmed earlier, so why not show the stuff in the arena first. Then air the stuff outside during the “Zamboni”, then finish inside.

The breakaway challenge has been awesome because it showcased players insane stick handling skills. Now it’s just a scripted show.

The 3 on 3 game is fine with me. They always seem to actually try in the final game. But the “skills” competition was just a circus

I'd say it was the worst one of all time..

Wished the NHL would go back to the East vs West format.

Eklund: I loved the All-Star Weekend. Does ANYONE out there agree with me?
- Eklund

I did not watch a single second of it.

Does that answer your question??

I was there. It was definitely a fun atmosphere. If you have the chance to go, you should go.

That said, the uniforms were poorly designed with too little contrast. They should have had a full tandem competition; that was the best event. But they declared it over after one round, just as everyone figured out what was going on. That event had a lot of potential. The breakaway challenge isn't a challenge and isn't about breakaways; it looks like a theatrical exploitation of kids to me. And although they were interesting competitions (dunking and golf), they were filmed earlier and shown on the jumbotron. Why am I paying for tickets and parking to watch recorded events on the jumbotron?

Finally, the most fun event was in the arena after the skills competition and wasn't on TV. That was the mascot hockey game. And those guys are surprisingly good skaters in the full costumes. I have no idea how they could even see the puck through the outfits. But it was a good show with full effort from the mascots. There were line changes, a lot of bumping, and even a couple instances of goalie interference. I think they took the event more seriously than some of the players.

Yeah. The black jerseys having white on the back made it very hard to tell who was on what team
- Mahewman

Those pastel colors on white jerseys are horrible Who are the people than test these things for TV Real idiots

Eklund: I loved the All-Star Weekend. Does ANYONE out there agree with me?
- Eklund

Only thing missing was the BLM flag, or rainbow flag on the uniforms. If I wanted to see shiny hockey, I'll go watch the local beer league. At least they play to win, not just for the cash.

Eklund: I loved the All-Star Weekend. Does ANYONE out there agree with me?
- Eklund

It’s unwatchable and has nothing to do with hockey

Yeah it was bad. Seriously. Don’t know a single person that tuned into it, and liked it.

It was horrible. The players act like they have a gun to their head to be there. Not much of an effort to show any personality by most. I had it on but it was brutal to watch at times. I message a some buddies to see of they were watching and everyone messaged me after a few minutes and said "have fun, I can't watch anymore of this" I really want to enjoy it but the last two years have been especially rough.

I loved the empty seats.

I loved how ad hoc it was. I've seen high school events with more planning and better execution.

I loved how awkward every player looks doing stupid interviews they have zero interest in.

I love the fact they chose to hold the game in an area that couldn't give a poop less.

I love the fact the NHL has embraced its role as as an amateur league with semipro athletes. We wouldn't want to confuse anyone by taking ourselves seriously.

It's fine.

Better than the NFL "all star" game, not as good as MLB. About on par with the NBA all-star game.
- Only_A_Ladd

Disagree on the NFL prowbowl and skills competition. They went head to head over the same weekend, and it was light years better than anything the NHL's all-star weekend had.

It was terrible. Get serious!