GDT: All-Star Game No Habs allowed

[Skip Bayless]

Honestly between the "world cup" and the "all star game", I think Bettman has to come to the conclusion that the peak of hockey is the olympics. Get the boys back in there Gary, ASAP.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Honestly between the "world cup" and the "all star game", I think Bettman has to come to the conclusion that the peak of hockey is the olympics. Get the boys back in there Gary, ASAP.

As long as Canada keeps winning, the league wins.

 

[JianYang]

There's nothing to fix. The all star game isn't for diehards. It's for children and casual fans to see the best players in the league scoring goals.

Don't forget the corporate partners.

 

[Chili]

There's nothing to fix. The all star game isn't for diehards. It's for children and casual fans to see the best players in the league scoring goals.

I would be interested to see the dicotomy of the audience but my take is that there is general apathy for the game.

The original purpose of the game was to collect funds for Ace Bailey, who had his career ended in a game (and nearly his life).

I really don`t know what the purpose is anymore, just that for the first time I didn`t watch any of it.

 

[Chili]

Interesting suggestion here, basically a mid season tournament instead of All Star weekend:

NHL all-star game should be replaced — not tinkered with | CBC Sports

In place of the NHL all-star game, we propose the league split up and play eight four-team, home-and-home, round-robin competitions over the final two weeks in January. Each four-team tourney would have its own Cup, no doubt in today's sporting world with a corporate handle. Here's how we see the new 32-team league being geographically divided (these groupings can be debated, too):
•Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle.
•Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg.
•Arizona, Colorado, Dallas, Vegas.
•Chicago, Detroit Minnesota, St. Louis
•Carolina, Florida, Nashville, Tampa Bay.
•New Jersey, N.Y. Islanders, N.Y. Rangers, Philadelphia.
•Boston, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Washington.
•Buffalo, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto.

The players still get their precious week off, but only this time during Super Bowl week..

 

[vokiel]

There's nothing to fix. The all star game isn't for diehards. It's for children and casual fans to see the best players in the league scoring goals.

I agree and Gary Bettman says it himself, it's a showcase for potential fans, not current fans.

 

[vokiel]

I would bring back the Cup Champions vs the rest of the league with some modifications:
- 1 game vs the Eastern Stars.
- 1 game vs the Western Stars.
- Both games count in the 82 games calendar.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Didn't watch it. Don't like the 3 on 3 format. I like the idea of Division All Star teams playing each other for the All Star cup or whatever.

Something like 8 forwards, 5 D and 2 goalies for each team. Games are 30 minutes with two 15 minute halves, except for finals which would be two 20 minute periods.

Round Robin Fri - Sat. Finals Sunday with top 2 teams and a consolation for bottom 2 teams.

Atlantic

Kucherov
Eichel
Matthews
Pasternak
Stamkos
Larkin
Barkov
Stone

Rielly
Petry
Hedman
Dahlin
Chabot

Vasilevsky
Price

Metro

Ovechkin
Crosby
Barzal
Aho
Hall
Giroux
Panarin
Backstrom

Jones
Carlson
Letang
Werenski
Ghost

Lundqvist
Murray

You get a better overview of players too.