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Time to End the All-Star Game

I feel like that would just make the situation more ridiculous - like the example you provided of the Leafs somehow gaining a number of points from it.  That wouldn't be good for the Leafs or for the integrity of the league if the game could have such a drastic impact.  It would also be confusing and throw a wrench into evaluating teams - part of the reason the season is so long is that over that many games the better teams and the worse teams should become clear (or clearer).
 
Potvin29 said:
I feel like that would just make the situation more ridiculous - like the example you provided of the Leafs somehow gaining a number of points from it.  That wouldn't be good for the Leafs or for the integrity of the league if the game could have such a drastic impact.  It would also be confusing and throw a wrench into evaluating teams - part of the reason the season is so long is that over that many games the better teams and the worse teams should become clear (or clearer).
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All good points, taken.

I really was half-serious, though.  Say they figured out some kind of rewards system -- it doesn't have to be what I sketched above -- and put a reasonable lid on it.  Maybe, a couple of bonus points up for grabs for the teams of the winning side?

My main point is that unless you provide some real, standings-affecting incentive tied to the outcome of the game, it can never rise above the level of a sideshow, with tawdry little episodes like Ovie's bailing, and major snafus like the Scott imbroglio.  It really has gotten to the point that they need to pull the plug unless they come up with something, well, radical.
 
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
My main point is that unless you provide some real, standings-affecting incentive tied to the outcome of the game, it can never rise above the level of a sideshow, with tawdry little episodes like Ovie's bailing, and major snafus like the Scott imbroglio.  It really has gotten to the point that they need to pull the plug unless they come up with something, well, radical.
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I find it a teeny-tiny bit funny that you're willing to let the All-Star game determine who potentially makes the playoffs but making the nets an inch or two bigger fundamentally changes the game of hockey.
 
The best way to fix the game to me is to just embrace it for what it is. Make the weekend as fun as possible for the players, and that fun will rub off on the fans. Certainly for the fans in attendance at the very least. The fantasy draft certainly accomplished that to a degree, but it didn't do anything for the game itself. Changing the game to 3-on-3 could be a step in the right direction, it's at least worth a shot. But if the whole divisional rivals thing doesn't really produce the desired result they should bring back the draft. Keep the current format, have fans vote for 4 captains, and then let them draft their own 3-on-3 teams based on a pool of players the league provides.

That and during the game replace the water in the players water bottles with vodka.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
My main point is that unless you provide some real, standings-affecting incentive tied to the outcome of the game, it can never rise above the level of a sideshow, with tawdry little episodes like Ovie's bailing, and major snafus like the Scott imbroglio.  It really has gotten to the point that they need to pull the plug unless they come up with something, well, radical.
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I find it a teeny-tiny bit funny that you're willing to let the All-Star game determine who potentially makes the playoffs but making the nets an inch or two bigger fundamentally changes the game of hockey.
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I'm just floating ideas re the ASG.  Not willing to go to the mat on that, and defeat all comers, as I was re the net size thing.  8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) :P
 
Honestly, I'm not sure much can be done to salvage interest in the All Star Game. It's largely an antiquated concept that worked in the era when not every game was televised, and, outside the ASG, some fans would never have the opportunity to see some star players play. That's obviously not true anymore.

As for having it have a real impact? I don't think the league or the PA will go for anything more significant than what MLB ended doing, which hasn't really served to increase the excitement or interest level in the game, either. It's an exhibition game, and should remain as such.

I'd like to see them drop the whole "every team has to be represented in the game" thing. Every team should have a player that participates in the broader All Star festivities, but the game itself should just be the best of the best. Let the other teams have their rep in things like the Young Stars game, or have guys there that are only participating in the skills competition. It may not improve fan interest all that much, but at least it will really be an all-star game, rather than a "some stars, and some other guys who are there because we have to have one guy from each team."
 
bustaheims said:
I'd like to see them drop the whole "every team has to be represented in the game" thing. Every team should have a player that participates in the broader All Star festivities, but the game itself should just be the best of the best. Let the other teams have their rep in things like the Young Stars game, or have guys there that are only participating in the skills competition. It may not improve fan interest all that much, but at least it will really be an all-star game, rather than a "some stars, and some other guys who are there because we have to have one guy from each team."
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Yeah, it might sound funny in lieu of my John Scott position but I think that there's really two ways you "fix" the All-Star game. Basically you make being an All-Star mean something, both in terms of status and in terms of money(although one will follow the other). You're never going to make it fun for players, or at least you're never going to make it more fun for Players than a week off would be. So what you want to do is make it so that being an All-Star carries some real weight with it when it comes time for them to negotiate a contract. If Leo Komarov is an All-Star then All-Star doesn't mean much on a resume. If you just take the 40 best in the game, then it does.

Like I said before, this isn't just a NHL problem. All of the big leagues struggle with getting the All-Star game to matter. The NBA has come the closest and it's because they take the 24 best players in the league. Something that carries status with it.
 
Potvin29 said:
Well...gotta admit this impacts my view of the whole thing: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/a-guy-like-me/
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Awesome article.

I can't believe somebody from the NHL seriously called John Scott and said "Do you think this is something your kids would be proud of?"
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Potvin29 said:
Well...gotta admit this impacts my view of the whole thing: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/a-guy-like-me/
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Awesome article.

I can't believe somebody from the NHL seriously called John Scott and said "Do you think this is something your kids would be proud of?"
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Colin Campbell guaranteed.
 
The NHL.com store is also now sold out of John Scott ASG shirts. I was pretty curious to see if we'd ever learn the figures from that. I figured his would have been top-5 for sure.

edit: Now it just hit me that the NHL is actually going to make money off him because of this. Ugh.
 
Potvin29 said:
Well...gotta admit this impacts my view of the whole thing: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/a-guy-like-me/
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Thanks for the link. Great article.

Someone, I forget who, brought up a great point with regards to Scott. If Scott was on the Predators, if Scott was the beloved local enforcer...wouldn't the NHL embrace this? If Scott had been voted in by Nashville fans because they just liked him in the way fan bases can connect with their enforcers...would the NHL have acted the way they did? Wouldn't the NHL want to foster that sort of connection between fans and players when, and let's be blunt, the NHL has really only taken the stance on fighting that they have because fans like seeing it? So how do you do that and then expect to turn around and say that fans shouldn't vote in a fighter to an all-star game?

But, like they always do, the NHL decided to lecture their fans on what they should or shouldn't like. Behind the scenes they tried to turn something fun into something ugly. I hope they all feel like jerks.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Awesome article.

I can't believe somebody from the NHL seriously called John Scott and said "Do you think this is something your kids would be proud of?"
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Scott was on Prime Time Sports a couple weeks ago and deep into the conversation McCown bluntly asked if accepting the invitation to the All-Star Game is something Scott will regret 5 or 10 years down the road.  I could not think of a stupider question to ask someone in Scott's situation.  Regret?  Seriously?  A once-in-a-life time opportunity is something he's going to regret, regardless of how he performs or the means as to how he got voted to the game?  Give us a break.
 
Potvin29 said:
Well...gotta admit this impacts my view of the whole thing: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/a-guy-like-me/
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Yes, player are people, with feelings ... not cardboard cutouts with labels like "goon."

I had no idea he went to Tech.  Now he's gotta be a fave.  I'll be watching this weekend.
 
Potvin29 said:
Well...gotta admit this impacts my view of the whole thing: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/a-guy-like-me/
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Great article.

This league is so pathetic, they owe Scott a massive apology. I wonder if the players will do something to show their solidarity with him this weekend. How hilarious would it be if they let him win all the skills competitions?
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Potvin29 said:
Well...gotta admit this impacts my view of the whole thing: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/a-guy-like-me/
Click to expand...

Awesome article.

I can't believe somebody from the NHL seriously called John Scott and said "Do you think this is something your kids would be proud of?"
Click to expand...

235px-Simpsons6x13.jpg
 
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