How would you fix the ASG?

[stevkrause 1,247]

First - combine the skills competition and the games, make it an East Vs. West competition and take a page from Chara's idea and get sponsors to donate X amount of dollars towards a charity of the winning conferences choice (maybe add some bonus donations for the winner of each individual contest from the skills competition to be donated to the charity of that player's choice)

First - Skills competition -

Fastest skater - make it 2 guys going opposite directions like they used to - 3 from each Conference winner gets a point for their conference

Hardest Shot - also 3 a side - self explanatory - winner gets a point for their conference

3 on 0 breakaway - this needs to be brought back - shows great passing and skill: Each team gets 2 teams of 3 and they get 60 seconds - every shot or goal scored and they need to leave the zone and re-enter - winner gets a point for their conference

Accuracy Contest - 3 a side, self-explanatory - winner gets a point for their conference

Slam dunk-esque breakaway challenge - 4 shooters a side, but instead of timing it, each skater gets 5 tries - winner is decided by HOCKEY-RELATED celebrity judges (i.e. legends of the game, commentators, hockey enthusiast celebs - Dennis Leary, Adam Sandler, Mike Meyers, etc...), also, an Alumni goalie (retired) from the ASG's hosting city takes the pipes (ie. if it were held in Detroit, have Mike Vernon go between the pipes, Glen hanlon, etc...)winner gets a point for their conference

and finally...

Single elimination shootout - Same as this year, every player goes - , HOWEVER, they all face the goalies from the "Young Star" game from the opposite conference - this way no one faces their teams goalie and the all-star goalies aren't used for this, but still NHL caliber goalies - winner gets a point for their conference

Next, the real game... which is BRUTAL

First, play the Young Star game, the day of the NHL All-Star game, at like 2PM EST, 10 minute periods of STOP time - 5 on 5. winner gets 3 points for their conference

Then, play the real game at 6PM EST, basically same format - winner gets 5 points for their conference

Add up the total of all the points and the winning conference gets the charity money AND the winning conference is the one selected from to choose the team that gets to host the Winter Classic the next season! - This would give the players something to play for and make the game more intense and the competitions more worth watching.

In the event there is a tie in points from all the events... the team that actually won the main game, gets the win.

What do you guys think?

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

How bout not making it a MANDATORY GAME

[lets go pavel 2]

The first change need to be in how the players are chosen. Fans get 1 vote, period. It's not that hard to work out.

Second, change the injury rule. Certainly the league can find a better way to verify players' health than forced suspensions. If a player is hurt, they should be exempt, period. There are plenty of other stars who don't get selected who can satisfy the fans.

Third, move the game to the weekend after the Finals. Hell, maybe even hold it in the winning team's arena? Make the NHL season awards ceremony part of the weekend.

[esteef 2,679]

The first change need to be in how the players are chosen. Fans get 1 vote, period. It's not that hard to work out.

Second, change the injury rule. Certainly the league can find a better way to verify players' health than forced suspensions. If a player is hurt, they should be exempt, period. There are plenty of other stars who don't get selected who can satisfy the fans.

Third, move the game to the weekend after the Finals. Hell, maybe even hold it in the winning team's arena? Make the NHL season awards ceremony part of the weekend.

Attendance issues resolved.

Having it at the winning team's arena is great for teams that win the Cup on the road. Gives their fans an opportunity to cheer for them while the fire is still hot!!!

esteef

Edited January 29, 2009 by esteef

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

I'd still have the skills and young stars game (and throw in an old timers game to boot) but the all-star game should be replaced with a game between the USA womens national team vs the Canadian women's national tem, WITH checking

[arnoldbuck 0]

Attendance issues resolved.

Having it at the winning team's arena is great for teams that win the Cup on the road. Gives their fans an opportunity to cheer for them while the fire is still hot!!!

esteef

resolved? I think it will make it worse. 95% of the league is on vacation by this point. 1/2 are on either shuswap or okanagan lake, the others, well, back in Europe/Russia. I know the league would gladly pay for flights to get these high star players to this event, but I can see it causing even more problems for off-season players who have to set down their beer, get off the lake and go skate around for a few days.

[lets go pavel 2]

resolved? I think it will make it worse. 95% of the league is on vacation by this point. 1/2 are on either shuswap or okanagan lake, the others, well, back in Europe/Russia. I know the league would gladly pay for flights to get these high star players to this event, but I can see it causing even more problems for off-season players who have to set down their beer, get off the lake and go skate around for a few days.

Possibly, but if you announce the players at the end of the season they'd have planty of notice. Maybe even increase the number of players selected, so a few absences won't be a huge deal. Players manage to come to teh awards show, I'm sure they could work it out ...

[alienanxiety 23]

I like the idea of incorporating the NHL awards into the all-star weekend.

I propose the all-star weekend happens mid-August, when people are missing hockey the most. if not east vs. west, then have the stanley cup champs take on the best of the rest. fans get no vote. players are voted in by the NHLPA.

call the weekend "The NHL All-Star Summer Classic"

-fan access meet and greet friday afternoon

-skills comp friday evening

-all-star game saturday evening

-awards ceremony and after party celebration sunday evening.

Edited January 29, 2009 by alienanxiety

[esteef 2,679]

resolved? I think it will make it worse. 95% of the league is on vacation by this point. 1/2 are on either shuswap or okanagan lake, the others, well, back in Europe/Russia. I know the league would gladly pay for flights to get these high star players to this event, but I can see it causing even more problems for off-season players who have to set down their beer, get off the lake and go skate around for a few days.

I think it would still be fine. We're not talking about THAT many players. Let everyone know who is selected before the regular season ends so players can make themselves available. It's one weekend for Christ sakes. This eliminates the whole save myself for the playoffs/Cup run mentality. After all, it is still their job as many have pointed out as well as an "honor" to be selected. I think the players would like it better, more of a festive atmosphere without interfering with their "real" job.

esteef

[lfd250 1]

Get rid of it. It's there to make the nhl money. Give everyone a break. Have an openhouse per team at the time. How many people could afford to go to Montreal. Or make it fun, have the minor team play the big boys at that time.

[TCfan1340 0]

How about having the All Star game at the begining of the season? After traing camp and pre-season games... we could start off hockey season with the All Star game. Not many players would have injuries at this point, and they have all just finished their vacations.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Absolute must change to me: get control of fan voting/don't let them stuff ballot box mentality

Possible change: put it at the end of the year, but not a huge priority to me

Consideration, not my original idea: put the game outdoors

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

Third, move the game to the weekend after the Finals. Hell, maybe even hold it in the winning team's arena? Make the NHL season awards ceremony part of the weekend.

This

Edit: Actually, maybe giving it to the loser of the cup final would be a good idea

Edited January 29, 2009 by Never_Retire_Steve

[miller76 463]

They can have the all stars face the front ofice of the nhl. Watching Phaneuf run Colin Campbell into the boards, or Bettman on the receiving end of an open ice hit from Chara!

Talk about a ratings improving.

Fortunately there is no ASG for two whole years for the league to screw up! (Olympics in 2010, and then the next ASG in Phoenix in 2011). Ample time to recoup!

Edited January 29, 2009 by miller76

[schulzte 18]

This is easy. Make the format the way it used to be. Stanley Cup Champion hosts and plays the All-Stars from the rest of the league. O.K., so the Wings would be playing the All-Stars from the other 29 teams. So what. The 20 best players in the league against the defending champs that have been playing together for the whole year. I like our chances. When they did this format in the '50's and '60's, the host team won about 1/3 of the games. And how appropriate for hockey would it be if every player on the Stanley Cup Champs was recognized as an all-star as well. And what a reward it would be for the city of the winning team. And think about what a home-ice atmosphere the Wings would have had at the Joe this year if this were such a format.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Don't let French Canadians vote.

[Guest Shoreline]

Indeed, to repeat, outdoors is a key.

Also, take a cue from the MLB (they actually did something right for a change) and make the ASG worth a crap by giving it some more meaning than just a simple exhibition. How, is the question, but thankfully it ain't my job to figure it out.

[C-TownWing 0]

This is easy. Make the format the way it used to be. Stanley Cup Champion hosts and plays the All-Stars from the rest of the league. O.K., so the Wings would be playing the All-Stars from the other 29 teams. So what. The 20 best players in the league against the defending champs that have been playing together for the whole year. I like our chances. When they did this format in the '50's and '60's, the host team won about 1/3 of the games. And how appropriate for hockey would it be if every player on the Stanley Cup Champs was recognized as an all-star as well. And what a reward it would be for the city of the winning team. And think about what a home-ice atmosphere the Wings would have had at the Joe this year if this were such a format.

The only problem I see is that there's probably a bigger talent gap between the champs and the all-stars now, since there were only six teams back then and the talent's spread thinner now (even accounting for the Euros).

The thing is, the all-star game in pretty much every sport is a joke, and no amount of tinkering is likely to change that. We probably ought to accept it for what it is (I've never understood why we hockey fans go through so much more hand-wringing over the ASG than fans in other sports), or get rid of it altogether--give the whole league the week off. I'd be fine with it.

Even going back to when I was a kid, I always liked the skills competition better. Al Iafrate had a decent career, but he's a legend in my mind because of the hardest shot thing. So another suggestion would be to make it the centerpiece of the weekend. Maybe toss in an oldtimers game, because that's a hell of lot more entertaining than the YoungStars. Even this year, what was the most talked about thing from the weekend? Ovechkin's costume. The players look like they genuinely have fun with it, which makes it entertaining to watch, unlike the game.

[weGotTheCup89 41]

relabel the olympics (just for hockey) and call them the ASG and schedule it once a year instead of every four.

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

Every email address can only vote once

Don't force players to go

In order to be eligible to be on the roster, you must have a certain standard of statistics and no suspensions for any kind of dirty hit/intent to injure in the previous year

[FLWINGSFAN4013 5]

Put game on better Station....

Give a history to the game and all of its greats before the night of the NHL Challenges

-The All Star Game-

Captains as voted by fans

Fans popular vote for starting lines 2 at each position and (2) goalies

League leaders next line 1 at each position (1) goalie

Players, GMs vote for 1 player at each position

Players, GMs, Fans vote Rookies get next line and (1) goalie

Alternates determined by fan popular vote 2 each position

More goalies less minutes played for them.

Eliminate the young star game as they are all professional athletes.

Give players a flat bonus that get selected. They don't show up no bonus and their money is donated to charity.

Mvp gets money donated to their charity and a car

Then start a countdown till the playoffs commercial

-Challenges-

fastest shoot-keep

fastest skater-fail

breakaway challenge-keep

target accuracy-fail replace with a one timer goal challenge- but have it like basketball 3pt shoot around....its timed, someone passes you 3 with reg puck and 1 with colored puck like homerun ball from mlb homerun derby to donate money if you make it and do 2 from blue line...circles and where they do the target accuracy right now. 6 players down to 4 to 2 and winner.

goalie stonewall challenge....like 3 breakaways against players that have datsyukian moves and then one timers with a homer screen

and never go back to a NA vs The entire World.

Edited January 29, 2009 by FLWINGSFAN4013

[Zetterbeard40 0]

My solution = Get rid of the All Star Game.

As stated in some other topics, All Star games are usless. Players dont like them, even if they "say" they do, Coaches/Gm's/Owners usually don't want to send their players there, and all-in-all, the whole weekend is terruibly planned. The skills competition has lost its flair, and the actual game might be the worst hockey ever. They might as well just vote in forwards because the defensman are useless. My solution, make the Winter Classic the midseason game. Just look at the rating the Winter Classic drew this year. Having this be a yearly thing where cities and teams bid for a chance to host it would be fantastic. The money that the NHL has invested in Ice making technology has made it possible to make an ice rink pretty much anywhere. So why no make this the annual "Midseason Classic". Since the early 1990's when Gretzky, Lemieux and Yzerman dawned the Cambell conference jerseys, the all star game has gone downhill. Something changes every year because they just cant find what works. Well Gary, look at the writing on the wall, THE ALL STAR GAME SUCKS. Take the one thing you've done good for this league (Winter Classic) and make it the all star game. No East vs. West, no North America vs. Europe, just two NHL teams playing a meaningful game in a setting that all of America will watch.

Any thoughts?

[C-TownWing 0]

My solution = Get rid of the All Star Game.

As stated in some other topics, All Star games are usless. Players dont like them, even if they "say" they do, Coaches/Gm's/Owners usually don't want to send their players there, and all-in-all, the whole weekend is terruibly planned. The skills competition has lost its flair, and the actual game might be the worst hockey ever. They might as well just vote in forwards because the defensman are useless. My solution, make the Winter Classic the midseason game. Just look at the rating the Winter Classic drew this year. Having this be a yearly thing where cities and teams bid for a chance to host it would be fantastic. The money that the NHL has invested in Ice making technology has made it possible to make an ice rink pretty much anywhere. So why no make this the annual "Midseason Classic". Since the early 1990's when Gretzky, Lemieux and Yzerman dawned the Cambell conference jerseys, the all star game has gone downhill. Something changes every year because they just cant find what works. Well Gary, look at the writing on the wall, THE ALL STAR GAME SUCKS. Take the one thing you've done good for this league (Winter Classic) and make it the all star game. No East vs. West, no North America vs. Europe, just two NHL teams playing a meaningful game in a setting that all of America will watch.

Any thoughts?

I'm in. Like I've said, people act like there's a way to "fix" the ASG, to make it a tight-checking, competitive game, to make players want to go, to make us want to watch. There isn't. We've tried NA vs. World to capitalize on the Olympics and the global nature of our game. We've tried adding YoungStars to showcase up-and-comers. We've now tried forcing players to show up. We've even held it in conjunction with the centennial of hockey's most storied franchise in front of hockey's greatest fans (just IMO, sorry guys, but come on, they cheer a good dump in for f's sake). The game still sucks, period.

My only hesitation is that I like the outdoor game on 1/1, just because it's quickly becoming known as something that happens on that day every year, and that of course builds the brand of the game up.

Of course, the Rose Bowl's been mentioned as a venue by some. I don't know why, I'm pretty sure it's occupado on or around 1/1 every year. But moving it to "all star weekend" would make it available for Ducks-Kings or something like that, which would be pretty cool.

[Dano33 41]

Every email address can only vote once

Don't force players to go

In order to be eligible to be on the roster, you must have a certain standard of statistics and no suspensions for any kind of dirty hit/intent to injure in the previous year

and the e-mail address has to be confirmed through a reply.

[lets go pavel 2]

Just an interesting poll from The Hockey News:

Should the NHL stop allowing fans to vote for the All-Star Game starters?

Yes 73 %

No 27 %

link