Should the NHL All Star game return to NA vs World format?

[BeeRYCE 2]

I think they should. I mean the advantages are that you get to see players from the same team face one another. It is also a good way to portray how internationally popular the game of hockey really is. I mean the reason why the MLB, NFL, and NBA play conference vs conference or league vs league is because they are as internationally diverse as the NHL is, and I feel a North America vs World format would be sicker to watch... Two styles of hockey going one on one with each other.

Let's put it this way, would you rather see...

Malkin, Crosby, and Ovechkin vs Thornton, Iginla, and Datsyuk

Or...

Malkin, Ovechkin, and Datsyuk vs Crosby, Thornton, and Iginla

???

I would choose the latter personally. I just wanted to see if I was the only one who wants to see North America vs World format come back alive again. With a 12-11 result of the East vs West game, obviously that format is pretty even... But I think more entertaining play would still come out of NA vs World.

[wingsnut25 10]

I was not a big fan of the North America vs the World format when they were running it, but the all star games have been so boring, they should like into that.

Although I would even more enjoy, the leagues all-stars vs the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the way they used to do it...

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Consider the larger proportion of North American players and, by extension, All-Star worthy ones, versus Europeans. By nature of format star NA players get left out while more marginal European players make it. It was an interesting idea for a year to promote NHL participation in the Olympics, but too many good players got left out in my opinion, and they changed it back.

I realize that in the format it's in now, marginal players still make it by virtue of the "represent all teams" policy and the fan-voting farce, the announced reserves (prior to injury) were still of high-quality and decently representative of the best the league has to offer. It seems more fair for good players to miss the ASG based on team equality than a very broad sense of nationality, to me.

I don't have any desire to try and arrange a NA vs World roster for this years NHL but if you show me a good enough team I could be convinced (for all that that's worth ).

[Electrophile 3,554]

The ASG needs to be made more interesting so that people will want to watch it. The defending Cup champs versus the league's all-stars, would be interesting. I'd watch that. North America vs. The World is not interesting, that's basically the Olympics when Canada/US play other teams. I'll watch the Olympics every 4 years, not every year.

[Ruys92 0]

As much love and support as I have for this team and organization, Detroit would get spanked against a team of all the leagues all stars.

[Wombat 26]

I would not like to see that NA vs World format return. I actually don't like the idea of teammates being forced to play each other in a meaningless exhibition. Personally I think every All Star game in every sport is not worth squat regardless of the format.

[C-TownWing 0]

Consider the larger proportion of North American players and, by extension, All-Star worthy ones, versus Europeans. By nature of format star NA players get left out while more marginal European players make it. It was an interesting idea for a year to promote NHL participation in the Olympics, but too many good players got left out in my opinion, and they changed it back.

I realize that in the format it's in now, marginal players still make it by virtue of the "represent all teams" policy and the fan-voting farce, the announced reserves (prior to injury) were still of high-quality and decently representative of the best the league has to offer. It seems more fair for good players to miss the ASG based on team equality than a very broad sense of nationality, to me.

I don't have any desire to try and arrange a NA vs World roster for this years NHL but if you show me a good enough team I could be convinced (for all that that's worth ).

I voted yes, but am now qualifying that by saying that it would probably work better to do the AHL thing: PlanetUSA vs. Canada. Last I checked, the NHL is pretty much 50-50 with Canadians vs. non-Canadians, so that makes sense to me.

[mjlegend 155]

Each team in winning conference should get $3 million added to their cap.

That would ensure less of this 12-11 crap.

[Guest Shoreline]

As has been mentioned many times now, just make the ASG an outdoor game.

And rid of player voting.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

As much love and support as I have for this team and organization, Detroit would get spanked against a team of all the leagues all stars.

No they wouldn't. The Wings have better chemistry than players assembled from other teams who aren't used to playing with each other. I'd bet on the Wings.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

No they wouldn't. The Wings have better chemistry than players assembled from other teams who aren't used to playing with each other. I'd bet on the Wings.

I hate to say "I remember reading somewhere" and not giving a source, but during the flurry of news during the All-Star break I remember reading somewhere that, back when they did the champs vs All-Stars format, those games ended up very close to a 50/50 split.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

I hate to say "I remember reading somewhere" and not giving a source, but during the flurry of news during the All-Star break I remember reading somewhere that, back when they did the champs vs All-Stars format, those games ended up very close to a 50/50 split.

This might help.

In the period from 1947 through 1968, (not 1951, 1952 or 1966), when the reigning SC champions played the All-Stars, the totals were:

19 games, with 7 wins for the SC champs, 12 for the all-stars.

Detroit played in 3 games with this format, winning 2 of them and tieing the other.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Clearly, my memory is somewhat off. Thanks for the stats.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Clearly, my memory is somewhat off. Thanks for the stats.

"First you forget names, then you forget faces..."

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

I hate to say "I remember reading somewhere" and not giving a source, but during the flurry of news during the All-Star break I remember reading somewhere that, back when they did the champs vs All-Stars format, those games ended up very close to a 50/50 split.

My apologies; I forgot that the League was quite content to have the ASG end in a tie in those days. So:

19 games, with the SC champions winning 7, the all-stars winning 9 and 3 ending in a tie.

[AtomicPunk 296]

Where is Bud Selig when you need him? Sheesh!

[Zetterbeard40 0]

I say you scrap the all star game totally, and make the winter classic the Game in the middle of the schedule. This will eliminate the uslessness of the game itself, market the game, and keep players and fans from being pissed off because they dont want to go to the All Star game.

All Star games in almost every sport are past their time. No players want to go, and no owners/gm's want to send their players.

Change the name of the all star game to "The Midseason Classic", pick two teams each year. Have a bidding process just like the allstar game. Done and done. With the new technology in ice making, the NHL can built an outdoor rink pretty much anywhere. I say do it