Take a bow, Ottawa. You have really outdone yourself.
The 2012 NHL All Star Game is in the books and by all accounts, the city of Ottawa has done a first class job hosting this spectacular event. The players, the media and the guests from out of town all agree, that this was one of the best All Star Games in recent memory.
While the weekend itself produced memory, after a memory, the highlight had to be during the second period of the actual game, when Daniel Alfredsson thrilled the Ottawa faithful. He scored twice in two minutes and brought the home town crowd to its feet.
But this was about more than the goal. This was a way for the people of Ottawa to let Alfie know just how much he means to this city. Daniel Alfredsson has given his heart and soul to this organization, both on and off the ice. As fans, we are truly lucky to have such an excellent representative and role model serve as the captain of this hockey team. The ovation following the first goal will be a moment that he will never forget.
On a personal note, it was an incredible weekend all around.
Heading into Thursday afternoon, I had yet to secure tickets to any of the events. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would be enjoying the festivities from the comfort of my living room couch. But in a series of last minute "miracles", I was able to get a ticket for the draft, skills competition and the game.
On Thursday, I was lucky enough to meet a couple of the players including the legend himself, Daniel Alfredsson. On Saturday, I bumped into one of the biggest supporters of this site, Mr. Bruce Garrioch and then on Sunday I had a chance to meet the owner of the Senators, Eugene Melnyk, as he stopped by the Wiser's Suite to say hello.
Thanks go out to a few people for making this a weekend I'll never forget (what I remember of it anyway). Anthony from Wisers, Dean from Local Heroes on Clyde, Mike from Reebok, Rachel the hardest working hostess in the business and a handful of other people from the Wiserhood that I crossed paths with over the weekend.
The Sens are back in action tomorrow in Boston but in the meantime, I'd love to hear your stories from All Star Weekend. What were the highlights?
Great story. My weekend was also good. Got to go to the Fan Fest, met a few players, kissed the cup and Saturday and Sunday were spent at SBP watching the fun.
My and the GF got to meet Ron McLean. We got to sit in the booth with him and got a great photo. He was really nice and down to earth. The little woman was super happy that we were in the right place at the right time and got to meet the legend.
All in all it was a fantastic weekend
2. Alfie goals
3. Spezza, Michalek scoring.
4. Elliot letting in softies!
My highlight was definitely seeing the crowd PRAISE ALFIE at the game. I think more than anything, the weekend demonstrated to fans around the league what a special player we have in him and what an integral part of the city he has become over the years. Couldn't be happier for our Captain.
Does anyone else agree?
Why dont you try and strap on a set of pads and play goalie and see how hard it is. Sick and tired of people trashing Ells for his performance. The guy was picked 291st overall yet he managed to make it to an all star game. He is a solid goalie and he has a huge career ahead of him.
I was quite hooked with the actual All-Star "game" last night. So many amazing goals. The Sedin/Alfie line combo was pure magic and out of this world. Props to some of the other line combos for helping me make use of my PVR's "slow-motion" button. Man, the first goal of the game (Gaborik to Pavel back to Gaborik) was perfection (along with a handful of other gems throughout the night).
Alfie has been my favourite player for a while now. Not sure if anyone can relate but after being a part of this All-Star experience, I can't help but like Alfie even more now (wasn't sure that was possible). There is going to be a whole lot of "Alfie withdrawal" from our fans in a few years.
Got sneaked into the convention centre on Saturday without paying (score). The place was absolutely heaving. Awesome job that the city and the volunteers (and voluntolds) did.
The thing that got to me was the respect that the other players have for Alfie, I know they have to say the right thing, but the love for Alfie all seems very genuine. Hearing what particularly Lundqvist and Stamkos said about him, was fantastic. It's very clear that the respect for this guy is league wide.
It's nice to see the players be a little more human than during the party line interviews they have to do. Was impressed by how Lupul handled all the booing at the draft and the smile on Phaneuf's face when he was getting booed at the skills competition when he went up against Spezza.
The welcome backs for Big Z and Hossa were fantastic and it was great to see Elliott cheered when he was drafted - let it be said, Ottawa fans are classy.
Please see a doctor if you're sick and tired. Elliot is an average goaltender that can't handle pressure. You'll see in the second half
01. My hat goes off to the goalies who stand in front of Chara... and as Malkin said on ice 'Holy Shit!'
02. Thank you Kane for putting in an effort on the breakaway challenge... others were all vanilla and trying the same ol'
03. Carey Price - his commentary and attitude was refreshing to see... he was fun to watch/listen to!!
04. (I'm going to get in shite from the faithful here, but...)
a) Lupul... I must say, he has class for a Leaf. Held himself well against our boos and remarks!
b) Thank God Lupul was the only Leaf interview during the events, because based on the draft, if it would have been Phaneuf or Kessel...
Last but not least... the game and Alfie!
Too bad he couldn't have taken home the MVP as well... but holy shit he's got game left in him!! He's twice the age of some of the boys out there and he skates as though he's an untouchable God!! We need a statue of him out front of SBP holding the world on his shoulders!!!
GO SENS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
It's always a meaningless game of shinny.
I should mention I'm still glad the league FINALLY put on a mid-season Alfredsson appreciation game. It's about time.
Let's break that losing skid tomorrow!
Highlights from the Skills Competition at SBP was the reception Alfie got when he first got introduced, we couldn't even hear what the announcer was saying! Another highlight is Spezza beating out Phaneuf in their hardest shot heat. Got to say I think the fans jeering Phaneuf helped psyc him out! The Chara 108.8 blast was very memorable as well and he got a well deserved ovation for it. The breakaway challenge had some memorable moments where I scremed out DID I JUST SEE THAT! Like the Patrick Kane Superman goal and the Perry mini stick goal.
Watched the game from home and it had some special moments, the Aflie ovation was a bit of a tear jerker for sure!
All and all a wonderful weekend, time to look forward to the stretch drive!
GO SENS GO!!
Thought that was pretty hilarious as well. Great weekend overall. The booing during the draft was a bit excessive IMO, and the whole Wade Belak thing was pretty disrespectful, but just one bad egg.
Thoroughly enjoyed the weekend events, and looking forward to the rest of the season.
Now towards the trade deadline!
Was very disappointed with the player intros. When the Sens were introduced the music should have stopped and they should have let the fans take over. There should have been huge standing O's for each of the Sens with Alfie getting the longest. Stuntman Stu should have hesitated for a while before announcing Spezza, then Karlsson and finally Alfie. I remember back in the day when Mario was introduced in Pittsburgh and the place went nuts for a few minutes. The Sens deserved their moment and the didn't get it.
There's no need to concentrate on it further though. Instead reflect on a great job done by the city and the organisation which has been appreciated by fans, players and media alike.
Ottawa and our fans get an unfair rap with the media a lot of the time, unfortunately this won't shut them up but it should go a long way towards it.
Whilst some fans might be blinded by their own loyalties which perversely make you less appreciative of opposition players than you should be the hockey world agrees with us about Alfredsson and the proof of that was the best thing we could want from this weekend.
And now back to some real games starting tomorrow against the big bad Bruins. Also let's get Greening back on the correct team again.
Also looking toward the trade deadline.
Overall I can't believe how much I enjoyed the ASG weekend.
I really thought Lupul, Kessel and Phaneuf were great sports and I think they had fun. Suck it Phaneuf was friggin hilarious, caught that one on the replay when I got home. would have loved those mics for the TV audience to be on at the arena too.
My one and only lowlight
My hate for Sidney Crosby grew a considerable amount when the little baby couldn't take another second of being out of the spotlight and had to make yet another announcement about his recovery. couldn't of waited till today eh Sid? His camp has some nerve making announcements during the NHL's showcase weekend that he wasnt attending. This solidifies it, he thinks he is bigger than the game. This may be petty but I don't care! haha
in case he doesn't get his cup.
He can still look back and be proud of what he has accomplished, and know that the fans adored him throughout.
I think you're being unfair. I don't believe his camp had anything to do with the story breaking when it did. Once the story did break however you have to expect both his camp and the penguins to make a statement because the media would drive them to do so.
Like it or loathe it Crosby is the biggest name in the game and his absence for over a year is a huge story. I got tired of the constant there is no update updates - but again I don't think that's him putting that out there. If the media asks him or the penguins questions, he has to answer them. He's not been allowed to quietly rehab like most people would.
If you want to find somebody who wishes to detract from the weekend and create a story out of nothing then look at Ovechkin, not Crosby.
I'm not going because I don't want to be a distraction? Please. The simple facts are that if Ovechkin was at the ASG he would have been just one of 50 or so players around this weekend, nothing more, nothing less. By deliberately withdrawing from that scenario he ensured he would be a talking point. That is far more selfish than anything Crosby or the penguins did this week.
Also couldn't help but laugh when lupul skated to center and tugged on the leafs crest during the intros.
Hahah yea I enjoyed that as well. Lupul was given a pretty rough ride this weekend and handled it well. Good on him.
Patrick Wiercioch played on Saturday !!
And I saw many Leaf fans standing for Alfie and showing him the respect we all know they have deep down for him. A few Leaf fans were booing but they were outnumbered.
Now let's get back to hating them!
Go Sens Go
The Gleason signing is consistent with what a couple of Hurricane staffers were saying as our flights got redirected to Montreal on Friday. They said Gleason loved playing in Raleigh.
They mentioned that the feeling around the team is that a Ruutu trade is expected.
I can understand where all the frustration of fans are coming from in terms of constant news on Sid. But yeah, he IS the face of the NHL, can't deny that. He's helped so much in bringing this sports fanbase to a global level. He, and Ovie, are this generations Gretzky's in terms of marketing appeal. They are selling the game by just playing the game the only way they know how. By getting sponsorships and endorsement deals with Nike, Reebok, etc they are growing the business of hockey operations and expanding it.
I'd disagree on the Ovie part. At the end of the day, the NHL is a business, in a highly competitive sports market. Ovie not being there cost them, whether you like him or not. As star studded as it was, Alex Ovechkin is a bigger "star" than Claude Giroux from a pure casual hockey fan perspective. There are people who simply only go to the ASG to get a chance to meet either Ovie, or Sid The Kid, and this year those two not being there definitely cost them some revenue.
On another note.. The ASG in Columbus? Boy were the analysts and "experts" having a field day with this one.. At least the Leafs have historic appeal.. the Jackets have bombed since day 1, with the exception of Rick Nash.
http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/PDFs/Prospect_Update-290112.pdf
ALso saw Elisha Cuthbert at the game yesterday! So hot in real life too. DAYYYUM
all in all, an amazing weekend for the city and the team. Glad I got to be a part of it
Seeing Bettman in person was strange, I said hi and he responded back with a nod, he didn't seem very happy. Mind you, he had 5 people around him all talking and they were discussing something important.
Alfie's goal was a major hightlight. That and the Chara record breaker slapshot. Two of the only reasons I wish I could have experienced it all live.
Looking forward to the trade rumours heating up even more now. So many things to take in.
Getting ready for the Ottawa - Boston game tomorrow.
Go Sens Go!!
You should have seen her at the Saturday night party. Unreal.
Shane O'Brien, Nicklas Grossman or Bryan Allen?
Grossman is probably the best player while O'Brien brings a lot of grit. Allen falls in the middle.
A friend's girlfriend's roommate, who works for Molson was at the party, she was being offered a night home by Kane. She didn't accept.
Actually, Bob McCowen of the TORONTO Fan 590 broke the story during OTTAWA's All Star weekend. Just sayin'... Sidney had nothing to do with it. I'm sure he's trying to keep is status hush hush.
Did I not post the thing about Crosby's injury being to his neck more than anything else? I certainly meant to. Was talking to someone about this a couple months back and was told the real issue has always been the neck.
Absolutely the opposite - glad it's over and that there is a sens game on the horizon.
If this was an end of season thing I'd want it to go on forever - but let's not confuse this with real hockey.
Kane probably wanted her to distract the taxi driver whilst he punched him in the face.
And like you said, Ottawa did a world class job of hosting this year, I was very impressed.
Well I doubt that both Weber and Suter will be in Nashville next year so that would eliminate one of the issues you have.
I agree Rinne should have been there but didn't the league try to make sure there were 3 goalies from each conference? Therefore removing Price wouldn't have helped - and let's be honest Price was there becuase nobody else from the Habs was close to deserving to be there from a stats perspective?
I digress, which one of Elliott, Howard or Quick would have been dropped? Elliott and Quick are possibly there for partly the same reason Price was, who else from St Louis or LA deserves a place?
One change that wouldn't have been completely bogus was Rinne instead of Quick and Doughty or Johnson in for Suter. Or maybe Rinne instead of Suter and Pietrangelo in for Elliott as the St Louis representative.
Cary Price in the break away competition was better entertainment than most of the break away shooters.
Stamkos shoot out shots
Chara hardest shot
Malkin taking the puck off his skates at the net and lifting it top corner of the net.
another hats off to Lupel for the way he took the boos with class, ok that was hard and I agree back to hating the leafs.
Hope our players are not that hung over against the Bruins, other than Andersson and the other players being rested it would not be a shocker if we drop that one.
Ran into Bryan Murray at the Rideau Centre on Thursday as well as Paul McLean outside of the Fan Fair on Thursday as well. Only got 1 player autograph... Chara... spent 2.5 hrs waiting to get it.. but he is worth it..
My friend and I kept meeting Gino Reda of TSN -- once at the Casino and once at the Fan Fair... had our pictures taken with him. We said we watched TSN all the time, even though they are Leaf fans...of course, he denied it.
Had my picture taken with Melnyk on Sunday... We also told him -- not to trade the future for a quick fix...
Overall a great weekend... great time to have your birthday...
I agree about Rinne being deserving, but he gets slightly shafted due to the defensive system he plays in. Everyone knows a Trotz system benefits the goaltender, no matter who it is.
Price on the other hand is the unquestioned MVP of his team and the only reason that team even competes.
I'm not arguing who's better between the two, but Price is more valuable to his team by a long shot!
Do you think any of that changed this past weekend? Is Ottawa viewed differently by some of these players?
I think Hartnell wants to join the battle of Ontario for our side ;)
I agree Chirp. Today feels like a bit of a letdown. Truly was a weekend I will never forget
This weekend would certainly help, particularly the love we all showed for our players. But I wouldn't expect any mad rush of UFAs clamoring to sign here just yet.
But at least Murray has something to build on and it might make the difference down the line when a UFA is trying to decide between us and one other team.
Sadly the "love we showed for our players" is part of the downside for a lot of big names looking to sign as UFAs. Many -- but not all -- would rather play in a warm, sunny market or a more exciting city where they can spend the season more or less invisible until they get to the rink. Wouldn't you?
Came away with custom ball cap, tuque, puck, jersey, vest, jacket and autographed photos of Spezza and Karlsson. Not bad...
(Still hate "Move like Jagger")
I saw Ray Shero walking through the concourse before the game yesterday. He was by himself which I thought was a bit odd. Who was he with in Bert's
I have no idea why you think that's okay to post in a public forum. This is a hockey rumours site, not TMZ. Grow up.
Also, Montreal is only 2 hours away, and I believe the NHL is trying to cater to a lot of the fans that's near Ottawa. It's more of a financial strategy thing.
From flying in north America to riding a Yugo in Siberia...will anything wake this guy up?!?
It's not looking likely that anything will wake this kid up. Let's hope he trains in Siberia in Dolph Lundgren's crazy assed boxing facility from Rocky 4 and between reps joins Stallone to pull logs up snow laden hills, because at this point things aren't looking very good for the kid.
Barring an off season miracle where he comes into training camp next year gunning to make the squad or willing to toil in Bingo... it's looking like the small risk we took on this one is equating to a bust.
Stay positive. As long as he's playing, and he wants to "be in the NHL" and he wants to play for Ottawa, I would continally support him, and cheer him on.
Besides, our AHL team is sucking balls right now, and I don't see him doing any worst if he got demoted "to the 'AHL version' of the KHL"
Still too early to give up on him. This year would f with anyone's confidence and that's definitely causing him some problems. If by 24-25 he still hasn't made his way back to the bigs then I'm willing to waive the flag.
Let's hope he has the resilience to fight his way back, but currently he is not on track to be the blockbuster "steal" that many of us had hoped.
Sad but true. I'm hoping for Turris to continue improving.
It was clear that Maclean didn't particularly rate the guy and his work habits were not we wanted - but it's OUR treatment of HIM that's to blame?
Before that it was somebody else's treatment of him that caused him to bolt to the KHL and before that it was Hitchcock's treatment of him that made him unhappy.
At some point you have to look at the common denominator.
In other news - it's a shame Regin has had so many injury issues. It's difficult to see where he fits in on this team next year with the additions (Zbad, Silfverburg) to the NHL roster we are expected to make.
Maybe we give him a 1 year deal for less money. More likely we let him try his luck elsewhere.