• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
All-Star Weekend

NHL All-Star Game is Giving the League a Black Eye

By Mike Necciai January 28th, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The NHL All-Star Game is supposed to be a fun event, held at mid-season to put the talent and skill of the league’s most coveted players on display. Sounds like a great time, right? The problem with the event isn’t the idea behind what it sets out to accomplish but instead, the execution by the league. I’ll admit that I thought they finally got it right this year, going to a three-on-three tournament that puts each division in competition with each other. It seems exciting, fun to watch and should provide ample entertainment.

The skills competition is always a fan favorite and maybe the most underrated part of the event is the fact that it brings a lot of revenue to whichever city it’s held, while also bringing fans closer to their favorite players. It should be viewed as a vacation of sorts and a chance for players to unwind before entering the most grueling portion of the NHL schedule. Instead, it has become an event that many mock and have little interest in. It’s an event that brings even more criticism to a league that needs no such thing right now. Honestly, it’s time to scrap it.

NHL All-Star Game Fan Voting Created a Mess

Again, this is another piece of the All-Star game that sounds great in theory. However, we all know what happened when the fans voted in John Scott, the long-time goon that will serve little purpose in a three-on-three tournament among the league’s best offensive threats. It seems that it became fan vs. league, as the NHL reportedly had a hand in Scott being traded to Montreal and reassigned to the AHL. Though it was never confirmed, some of the best sources in hockey aired some very concerning information around the swap that sent Jarred Tinordi to Arizona in exchange for Scott.

Per TSN’s Bob McKenzie…

Prior to this, John Scott was asked by both the National Hockey League and the Arizona Coyotes to reconsider his decision to accept a spot on the team that was awarded to him by a fan vote. He refused to do that.

McKenzie also reported that the Arizona Coyotes were the party that wanted Scott included in the trade and that Montreal had no intentions of taking him. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, and the trade did make sense for both teams from a financial standpoint, but it sure reeks with the potential of something fishy.

The end result is that Scott is indeed taking part in the All-Star Game this weekend in Nashville. Many took to social media and hockey writers condemned the league for the possibility of them having a hand in this. The NHL announced that Scott would attend but was it only due to the added pressure from so many irate parties? We’ll never know.

No Rest for the Weary

Alex Ovechkin

(Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports)

If the All-Star Game is supposed to be a fun occasion and provide mid-season rest for players, why have a rule that suspends a banged up individual for the following regular season game if they miss the event? Alex Ovechkin and Jonathan Toews will be suspended for their respective team’s contests on February 2nd as they’ve both chosen to sit-out, with Ovechkin claiming a lower-body injury and Toews citing illness. In other words, fans that have spent large amounts of money on tickets to see the league’s superstars will no longer have the chance to do so because the individual would prefer to use this time to recover. The NHL doesn’t agree that resting is more important than their participation in the three-on-three exhibition tournament.

A similar issue occurred with Sidney Crosby last year and he also served a suspension for missing the game. I understand the reason for the rule, which is simply the NHL wanting to make it difficult for their main attractions to back out. If that rule needs to be in place, why not fine the organization instead of punishing the fans that have paid to see that individual? The issue is, how do you determine whether or not a player is healthy enough to play, thereby issuing a suspension or fine? Like I said, I get the reason but that doesn’t make it right.

Loss of All-Star Game Means Loss of Revenue

I won’t fault the NHL for wanting to cash in on an event like this. It generates a lot of revenue for the league and as I mentioned previously, it also brings people and money to the city it takes place. However, when it begins to shed negative light on the league and becomes a mocked event, why continue down that path?

My idea for a substitute product would be a week off from hockey and each organization run a youth hockey camp. While it surely wouldn’t create the immediate revenue of the All-Star Game, it would create loyal fans and shed much-needed positive light on the league. Those loyal fans turn into ticket and merchandise sales, plus it helps grow the game of hockey in all of these regions. Unfortunately, we’ll likely see the same circus occur every year.

  • Tags
  • 2016 NHL All-Star Game
  • Alex Ovechkin
  • Sidney Crosby
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 26th 10:45 AM
Nashville Predators

Predators Need to Re-Examine Line Combinations

Jan 26th 10:35 AM
Previews and Predictions

Jets’ Projected Forward Lines With Dubois

Jan 26th 10:25 AM
Dallas Stars

4 Takeaways From Stars’ Opening Weekend Games Versus Predators

Jan 26th 10:15 AM
Tampa Bay Lightning

Anthony Cirelli to Be Lightning’s Biggest X Factor in 2020-21

Jan 26th 10:05 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Montréal Canadiens Need to Work on Discipline

Jan 26th 9:55 AM
Advanced Stats

Devils News & Notes: Strong Start to 2020-21 Continues

Jan 26th 9:45 AM
Hockey History

Gretzky Still ‘The Great One’ at 60

Jan 26th 9:35 AM
New York Islanders

Islanders Continue to Win Games With Their Defense

Jan 26th 9:25 AM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres’ Most Surprising and Disappointing Players of the Early Season

Jan 26th 9:15 AM
St Louis Blues

3 Reasons Why the Blues Should Re-Sign Jaden Schwartz

Editor’s Picks
Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information