Heading into the 2016 NHL All Star Game, there has been much of the usual hand-wringing that always seems to accompany the yearly event.
Each year, the so-called experts become fixated on the idea of making the yearly showcase more competitive, more compelling and more like an actual regular season hockey game. Yet each year they seem to be forget the real reason for the All Star Game- fun.
And last night in Nashville, Tennessee, the Skills competition delivered plenty of that. Whether it was mini-versions of Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski, PK Subban doing his best Jarmoir Jagr impression, or John Scott saluting the sold out crowd at centre ice, it was a night full of moments that show exactly what makes All Star weekend so great.
And it’s safe to assume there will be more of the same today with the first ever 3 on 3 tournament.
The first game goes tonight at 5:00 PM when Erik Karlsson and the Atlantic Division All Stars take on the All Stars from the Metropolitan Division. The winner of that game then plays the winner of the Pacific vs. Central match-up in the final.
Plenty on the line too as the winning team will come away with a fairly substantial cash prize.
It should be a fun evening of hockey in Nashville.
Of course I’d be lying if I said my heart didn’t stop for just a moment as Erik Karlsson blew a tire in the fastest skater event. All the warm and fuzzy feelings about All Star weekend probably go out the window pretty quick if he gets hurt there but thankfully he was able to recover without incident.
As All Star weekend wraps up in Nashville today, it’s important to remember that this isn’t about making a competitive weekend of hockey. It’s about players having some fun in the middle of the hectic NHL season. Both for the host city and for the young fans that follow our sport.
Real hockey will be back in a couple days.
-Missed this from late Thursday night but according to Sylvain St. Laurent, the Senators are once again hoping to do a little NCAA shopping and have apparently set their sights on University of North Dakota forward Drake Caggiula. The 21 year old has 30 points in 25 games this season and is the running for the Hobey Baker award. The name may not be familiar but you’ve probably seen at least one of his goals on Sportscentre this year. Here’s one he scored earlier this month.
