"All-Star" Game - January, 30th, 2012

Oh, the days when the All-Star game had any sort of meaning.  Remember when it used to be East vs. West?  Or North American born players vs. the world?  At least you had something to root for then, now, it's pretty well only for the host city.  It was great of Ottawa to be able to cheer on an entire line of Senators, especially for Alfredsson and what he has done for that city.

I guess every team has their players they can cheer for, but it doesn't really prove anything on the competitive side of it.  I understand it's for the fans, and it targets a younger demographic, but the All-Star break is pretty well a week of no hockey in the middle of the season...unacceptable.

I use the word "all-star" loosely as well, I mean, come on, Joffrey Lupul?  Pominville? Dennis Wideman?  I'd love to have Scott Hartnell on my team, he is one of my favorite players just because he is exactly what an all around hockey player should be, but I wouldn't think he is one of the best in the NHL.  Now, he's having a great season so far, but he was probably brought in more for his commentating abilities rather than his on-ice skills.

The All-Star Game is not exactly a place for defensemen to be at all.  The only talent they get to display is how good they are at giving away 3-on-1's and how they don't know how to take the man.  D-men shouldn't be there at all, but since they are, I'm sure there are better candidates than Dan Girardi.  Again, he's a great player, but All-Star? Nay nay.

The good ol' days - Campbell Conference vs Wales Conference

My vote is to go back to East vs. West or North America vs the world, just beacause it involves more people.  More people can cheer for a team, more cities might show more interest.  Otherwise, this whole 'players drafting players' schtick is going to get old in a hurry, then all you have left is a single city cheering on teams that nobody cares about in a game that even less people bother waking up for.

One great thing to see come out of that All-Star game was the demand for the Sedin's.  Everybody wanted to play with them, everybody talked about how it's not fair that they are on the same team.  When you hear players say stuff like that, to think that they would be the most desirable tandem to play with in the league, it makes you proud to a Canuck fan.