SI is reporting big changes to the All-Star game next year. Fans will vote for starters, NHL officials will choose the rest. Somehow, two captains will be chosen and then they will take turns picking players from one big pool just like back in recess.
I doubt this will make me anymore likely to watch the game itself, but you couldn't keep me away from watching the selection process. I hope all the players have to stand in a big line while the captains choose them. We can watch as the last player to be picked bows his head in utter humiliation.
This is awesome. Simmons suggested this for basketball years ago. Potential for great rivalries as people feel slighted. Edit: I know nothing about hockey, but I'd think Crosby and Ovechkin would be the two captains.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroUnfartunately they're in different conferences. They should just say screw it and make them captains anyway.
Supposedly, conferences won't matter. All the players go into a big pool, so you'll have intermingling anyway. Someone yesterday brought up an interesting scenario, though. Say Crosby and someone other than Ovechkin were made captains. What happens if Crosby gets first pick and has to choose between, say, Ovechkin and Malkin? Do you go with your boy? If you don't, does Malkin sulk the rest of the season and hurt the team in the playoffs? Can I jinx Shapiro's team in any other way? :)
Fans will continue to have a say in the voting process by selecting the top six players by position. The NHL's hockey operations staff will round out the player pool by choosing the other 36 all-stars along with 12 rookies, who will take part in the skills competition on Saturday night.
As in the past, all 30 NHL teams will be represented
- Ok, so the NHL and the fans still decide who goes there but not on what team they will play. That could be fun. Tho I don't care about the "all teams must be represented" thing.
I wouldn't want to have one of my players be a captain in this format. Its an added target for some bozo who feels slighted because they didn't get picked first, second or even at all to go after the captains in regular season games. Its school yard, yes and thats where it belongs. Its great for fans who want to see big hits and lots of injuries, because nothing sells a sport like star players being out for the season. It also doesn't stop the real problem for the NHL All Star game, the abysmal goal tending.
The Winter Classic is a schoolyard thing. Do you have beef with that too lotjx? And I'd want MY players to be a Captain. It's called "leadership". And if all players had the fragile egos you describe, there would always be a wide assortment of injuries. But you mentioned one thing that was specifically and flagrantly inaccurate;
Originally posted by lotjxIt also doesn't stop the real problem for the NHL All Star game, the abysmal goal tending.
Seriously?
Lets assume for a moment that it's still East vs West. Lets take the best goalie in the Western Conference. The VERY VERY best. Lets give him two of the top defensmen in the the west as well. He hits the ice and is feeling good. Until he sees the forwards on one line;
Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin. Sidney Patrick Crosby. Evgeni Vladimirovich Malkin.
He looks to the Eastern Bench and sees Steven Stamkos and wonders "why is STAMKOS not on the first line?!"
Steven Stamkos not on the first line. And you expect goalies to pitch a shutout or only let in two goals when they face "checking lines" (rare are there ever ANY checks in an all-star game) that probably have 30 - 40 goal scorers on them?
Get real.
(edited by El Nastio on 11.11.10 1651) After a (very) long hiatus, I have begun to write again. And this time, I'm not alone!
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I agree with El Nastio, the All-Star game is NOT about good goaltending. Yes there will be some spectacular saves, but even more there will be highlight reel quality goals.
Show me one person who goes to an All-Star game for a 0-0, 1-0, 2-0 games and I'll show you 20 who want a 9-8 wild fire affair. The goalies know they are going to get shelled, that's also why the bring in three and have them only play one period at a time.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroUnfartunately they're in different conferences. They should just say screw it and make them captains anyway.
Supposedly, conferences won't matter.
Oh mine bad, I read it wrong.
The reason the all-star game is boring isn't because the goalies are bad, it's that no one plays defense, btw. Perhaps you've heard of this, in every all-star game. It's just kind of fun to see people skate around at low intensity and trying to hit on wild passing plays. But now you get the intrigue of this which is unique and fascinating and weird.